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L Ac W S 

OF THE 

STATE OF MICHIGAN 

RELATING TO 


THE SUPPORT OP POOR PERSONS. 


Compiled and Published under the supervision of the Secretary of State, 
PURSUANT TO ACT NO. 3 , LAWS OF 1877 . 



BY AUTHORITY. 


LANSING: 

W. S. GEORGE & CO., STATE PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 

1878. 



v 























\ 


















* V 


+ 

























CONTENTS 


Page. 

I. Constitutional Provisions. 1 

II. Power of Boards of Supervisors to erect poor-houses, etc., and to abolish or revive dis¬ 
tinction between township and county poor. 1 

III. Exemption of Poor Persons from taxation. 2 

IV r . Duty of school officers relative to Indigent and Pauper children. 3 

V. Support of Poor Persons by their Relatives. 4 

VI. Support of Poor Persons by the Public. 7 

VII. Union Work-houses and Alms-houses. 20 

VIII. Relief of Families of Volunteers. 22 

IX. Soldiers’ Aid Fund. 27 

X. Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind. 29 

XI. Care and Support of Insane Persons. 30 

XII. Supervision of Charitable, Penal, Pauper and Reformatory Institutions. 39 

XIII. Care and Support of Dependent and Neglected children. 42 

XIV. Care of Juvenile Offenders.—.. 49 

XV. Hospitals or Asylums, incorporation of. 51 

XVI. Industrial and other Charitable Schools... 53 

XVII. Relief of Poor Debtors from imprisonment. 55 

XVIII. Masters, Apprentices and Servants. 58 

XIX. Maintenance of Illegitimate Children. 01 

XX. Disorderly Persons.- 64 

XXI. Dissection in certain cases. 64 

XXII. Miscellaneous Provisions: Inspection of County Jails; Relief of Poor Persons by 
Villages; Removal of Paupers from Poor-houses; Appointment of Guardians for 
Spendthrifts; Approval by Superintendents of the Poor, of the sale of the Real Estate 
of Wards; Proceedings by and against Public Bodies having certain Corporate Pow¬ 
ers, and by and against officers representing them. 65 

























Note.— The sections of this compilation are numbered consecutively by figures in parenthesis at 
the beginning of each section. The section numbers following are those of the act or statute. The 
section numbers of the Compiled Laws, so far as the matter is found in the Compilation of 1871, are 
indicated in parenthesis at the end of each section. 


LAWS 


RELATING TO THE 

SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS, 


I. Constitutional Provisions. 


ARTICLE IV. 

(1.) Section 38. The Legislature may confer upon organized Local legislation, 
townships, incorporated cities and villages, and upon the board 0 f 4 Selden > 472> 
supervisors of the several counties, such powers of a local, legisla¬ 
tive, and administrative character as they may deem proper. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

(2.) Section 10. Institutions for the benefit of those inhabitants Asylums, 
who are deaf, dumb, blind, or insane, shall always be fostered and 
supported. 


II. Powers of 
Poorhouses, 

DISTINCTION 

Poor. 


Boards of Supervisors to Erect 
Etc., and to Abolish or Revive 
between Township and County 


From act to define the powers and duties of the Boards of Supervisors of the sev¬ 
eral counties, and to confer upon them certain local, administrative, and legisla¬ 
tive powers. 

Laws of 1851, p. 231. Approved and took effect April 8, 1851. 

(3.) Section 11. The said several boards of supervisors shall Powers of boards 
have power, and they are hereby authorized, at any meeting there- ofsu P ervi9ors * 
of, lawfully held, 

First, To purchase for the use of the county any real estate to buy real 
necessary for the erection of buildings for the support of the poor certain 

of such county, and for a farm to be used in connection therewith; 






2 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Determine sites. 


Sale or lease of 
real estate, etc. 


Erection of 
buildings for 
poor-houses, 
etc. 


Borrow or raise 
money. 

Proviso. 


Payment of 
loans by tax. 


Compensation 
for services, 
claims, etc. 


Current 

expenses. 


Distinction as to 
poor. 


Second, To purchase any real estate necessary for the site of any 
court-house, jail, clerk’s office, or any other county building in 
such county; 

Third , To fix upon and determine the site of any such building, 
if not previously located; 

Fourth, To authorize the sale or leasing of any real estate 
belonging to such county, and to prescribe the mode in which any 
conveyance thereof be executed; 

Sixth , To cause to be erected the necessary buildings for poor- 
houses, jails, clerks’ offices, and other county buildings, and to 
prescribe the time and manner of erecting the same; 

Seventh, To borrow or raise by tax upon such county any sums 
of money necessary for any of the purposes mentioned in this act: 
Provided, That no greater sum than one thousand dollars shall be 
borrowed or raised by tax in any one year, for the purpose of con¬ 
structing or repairing public buildings, highways, or bridges, unless 
authorized by a majority of the electors of such county voting 
therefor as hereinafter provided; 

Eighth, To provide for the payment of any loan made by them, 
by tax upon such county, which shall in all cases be within fifteen 
years from the date of such loan; 

Ninth, To prescribe and fix the compensation for all services 
rendered for, and adjust all claims against their respective coun¬ 
ties, and the sums so fixed and defined shall be subject to no appeal. 

Tenth, To direct and provide for the raising of any money which 
may be necessary to defray the current expenses and charges of 
said county, and the necessary charges incident to or arising from 
the execution of their lawful authority, subject to the limitations 
prescribed in this act; 

Eleventh, To abolish or revive the distinctions between township 
and county poor. 1 —(§477.) 


III. Exemption of Poor Persons from Taxation. 


From act to provide for a uniform assessment of property, and for the collection and 
return of taxes thereon. 

Laws of 1869, p. 325. Approved and took effect April 6,1869. 

certain property (4.) Section 5. The following property shall be exempt from 
taxation, viz.: * * * * * * * i * 

Tenth, The personal and real estates of persons who, by reason 
of infirmity, age, or poverty, may, in the opinion of the supervisor, 
be unable to contribute towards the public charges.—(§971.) 

From chapter twenty-three of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

how h and y b labor; Section 5. In making the estimate and assessment of high- 

whmnestab. wav labor the commissioner shall proceed as follows: 

lished. --—_______ 

i As amended by act No. 165, p. 156, Laws of 1877. 








SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


3 


First, Every male inhabitant in each road district being above who to be 
the age of twenty-one and under the age of fifty—except pension- ses8e(3, 
ers of the United States and other soldiers and sailors honorably 
discharged, who are disabled from performing manual labor by 
reason of wounds received or diseases contracted while in the ser¬ 
vice of the United States, paupers, idiots, and lunatics—shall be 
assessed one day. ****** 1 —(§1220.) 


IV. Duty of School Officers relative to Indi¬ 
gent and Pauper Children. 


From chapter fifty-eight of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(G.) Section 41. Within ten days next previous to the annual census of chii- 
district meeting, it shall be the duty of the director, or such other dren ’ 
person as the district board may appoint, to take the census of the 
district, and make a list in writing of the names and ages of all 
the children between the age of five and twenty years residing 
therein; and a copy of said list shall be verified by the oath or 
affirmation of the person taking such census, by affidavit appended 
thereto or indorsed thereon, setting forth that it is a correct list 
of the names of all the children between the ages aforesaid resid¬ 
ing in the district, which affidavit may be made before the clerk of 
the township; and said list shall be returned with the annual 
report of the director to the township clerk. Children in alms- Almshouse 
houses, prisons, or asylums, not otherwise residents of the district, noUnciudeA* 
and not attending the school, shall not be included in the said 
census, nor shall Indian children be so included unless they attend 
the school or their parents are liable to pay taxes therein. 2 — 

(§3617.) 

(7.) Sec. 57. The district board may purchase, at the expense Board may pur- 
of the district, such school-books as may be necessary for the use of mdf|ent°chiL r 
children when parents are not able to furnish the same, and they dren * 
shall include the amount of such purchases in their report to the 
supervisor or supervisors, to be assessed as aforesaid. They shall Text-books, 
also prescribe a uniform list of text-books to be used in the said 
school; but text-books, once adopted, shall not be changed within 
two years, except by the consent of a majority of the voters at some 
regular meeting. They shall have the general care of the school, 
and may establish all needful regulations for its management. 3 — 

(§3627.) 

(8.) Sec. 65. The said district board shall have the care and custody and use 
custody of the school-house and other property of the district, ofschool - house - 
except so far as the same shall by a vote of the district be specially 
confided to the custody of the director, including all books pur¬ 
chased for the use of indigent pupils. 4 * * * *— (§3635.) 

i As amended by act No. 65, p. 80, and act No. 179, p. 206, Laws of 1875, and act No. 36, 
p. 26, Laws of 187?. 

st As amended by act No. 34, p. 42, Laws of 1867, and act No. 63, p. 107, Laws of 1872. 

3 As amended by act No. 170, p. 271, Laws of 1871, and act No. 63, p. 107, Laws of 1872. 

4 As amended by act No. 170, p. 271, laws of 1871, and act No. 132, p. 180, laws of 1873. 







4 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Certain persons 
to support poor 
relations. 


In case of failure, 
superintendents 
to apply to cir¬ 
cuit court. 


Court to make 
order. 


Order in which 
relatives are 
liable. 


Contribution, 
when to be 
ordered. 


Order, what to 
specify; may be 
varied in certain 
cases. 


V. Support op Poor Persons by their Rela¬ 
tives. 

Chapter thirty-seven of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(9.) Section 1. The father, mother, and children, being of 
sufficient ability, of any poor person who is blind, old, lame, impo¬ 
tent or decrepit, so as to be unable to maintain himself, shall, at 
their own charge, relieve and maintain such poor person, in such 
manner as shall be approved by the directors of the poor of the 
township where such poor person may be.—(§1801.) 

(10.) Sec. 2. Upon the failure of any relative to relieve and 
maintain any such poor person, it shall be the duty of the super¬ 
intendents of the poor of the county where such poor person may 
be, to apply to the circuit court for the county where such relative 
may dwell, for an order to compel such relief; of which applica¬ 
tion at least fourteen days’ notice in writing shall be given, by 
serving the same personally, or by leaving the same at the dwelling- 
place of the person to whom it may be directed, in case of his 
absence therefrom, with some person of sufficient age.—(§1802.) 

(11.) Sec. 3. The court to which such application may be made, 
shall proceed in a summary way to hear the proofs and allegations 
of the parties, and shall order such of the relatives aforesaid of 
such poor person, as appear to be of sufficient ability, to relieve 
and maintain such poor person, and shall therein specify the sum 
which will be sufficient for the support of such poor person, to be 
paid weekly.— (§1803.) 

(12.) Sec. 4. The said court shall also in such orders direct the 
relative or relatives who shall perform that duty, in the following 
order: The father shall be first required to maintain such poor 
person, if of sufficient ability; if there be no father, or he be not 
of sufficient ability, then the children of such poor person ; if 
there be no such children, or they be not of sufficient ability, then 
the mother, if she be able to do so.—(§1804.) 

(13.) Sec. 5. If it shall appear that any such relative is unable 
wholly to maintain such poor person, but is able to contribute 
towards his support, the court may, in its discretion, direct two or 
more relatives of different degrees to maintain such poor person, 
and shall prescribe the proportion which each shall contribute for 
that purpose; and if it shall appear that the relatives liable as 
aforesaid are not of sufficient ability wholly to maintain such poor 
person, but are able to contribute something therefor, the court 
shall direct the sum, in proportion to their ability, which such rela¬ 
tions shall severally pay weekly for that purpose.—(§1805.) 

(14.) Sec. 6. Such order may specify the time during which 
the relatives aforesaid shall maintain such poor person, or during 
which any of the said sums so directed by the court shall be paid^ 
or it maybe indefinite, or until the further order of the court; 
and the said court may from time to time vary such order, when¬ 
ever circumstances shall require it, on the application either of any 
relative affected thereby, or of any superintendent of the poor, 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


5 


upon fourteen days’ notice being given in the manner aforesaid.— 
(§1806.) 

(15.) Sec. 7. The costs and expenses of any application under 
the provisions of this chapter, shall be ascertained by the court, 
and paid by the relatives against whom any order may be made; 
and the payment thereof, and obedience to the order of mainten¬ 
ance, and to any order of such court for the payment of money as 
aforesaid, may be enforced by process of attachment from such 
court.—(§1807.) 

(16.) Sec. 8. If any relative who shall have been required by 
such order to relieve or maintain any poor person, shall neglect to 
do so in such manner as shall be approved by the directors of the 
poor of the township where such poor person may be, and shall 
neglect to pay to the superintendents of the poor of the county, 
weekly, the sum prescribed by the court for the support of such 
poor person, the said superintendents may maintain an action 
against such relatives, as for moneys paid, laid out and expended, 
and shall recover therein the sum so prescribed by the said court 
for every week the said order shall have been disobeyed, up to the 
time of such recovery, with costs of suit, for the use of the poor. 
—(§1808.) 

(17.) Sec. 9. Whenever the father, or the mother, being a wid¬ 
ow or living separate from her husband, shall abandon, neglect, 
or refuse to maintain his or her children, or a husband shall aban¬ 
don, neglect, or refuse to maintain his wife, leaving any of them 
chargeable, or likely to become chargeable, upon the county for 
their support, a superintendent of the poor of the county where 
such wife or children may be, may seize upon and take immediate 
possession of the goods, chattels, effects, things in action, and the 
lands and tenements of any such father, mother, or husband, 
wherever the same may be found in the said county; and the said 
superintendent shall make an inventory of the property so seized, 
a copy of which shall be left with the owner of the same, or at his 
or her last known place of residence, together with a notice to 
appear before a justice of the peace of the said county within one 
week after such seizure, and show cause why such seizure should 
not have been made. Said notice shall state the time, place, and 
officer before whom a hearing may be had. 1 —(§1809.) 

(18.) Sec. 10. Upon the due proof of the facts aforesaid, the 
said justice of the peace shall indorse upon said inventory his 
approval of the proceedings, and the superintendents of the poor 
of said county shall then be vested with all the rights and title to 
the said property, things in action, and effects which the person so 
abandoning, neglecting, or refusing to support as aforesaid, had at 
the time of seizure. 1 —(§1810.) 

(19.) Sec. 11. All sales and transfers of any personal property 
of such father, mother, or husband, made by him or her, after 
such seizure by a superintendent, whether in payment of an ante¬ 
cedent debt, or for a new consideration, shall be absolutely void, 

i Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, as amended by Act 158 of the Laws of 1869, p. 313, 
approved April 5, 1869. 


Payment of costs 
and expenses, 
etc., how en¬ 
forced. 


Action may be 
brought by 
superintendents 
in case of neg¬ 
lect, etc. 


When superin¬ 
tendent to seize 
and take estato 
of persons ab¬ 
sconding. 


Inventory to be 
made, and copy, 
etc., left with 
owner. 


Notice of hear¬ 
ing. 


When approval 
of inventory by 
justice indorsed, 
rights to prop¬ 
erty shall be 
vested in super¬ 
intendents. 


Sales by owner- 
after seizure to 
be void. 





6 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Circuit court 
may confirm or 
discharge seiz¬ 
ure, etc. 


Sale of property 
and application 
of proceeds. 


When two 
superintendents 
may restore 
property seized, 
to owner. 


Pauper’s per¬ 
sonal property 
sold. 


How sold. 

Proceeds. 

Right to pro¬ 
ceeds released. 


and the superintendent of the poor having the matter in charge 
shall return the inventory of the property so seized, with his proceed¬ 
ings thereon, to the next circuit court for the county in which such 
superintendent resides. 1 —(§1811.) 

(20.) Sec. 12. The said circuit court upon inquiry into the facts 
and circumstances of the case, may confirm the said seizure, or 
may discharge the same; and if the same be confirmed, such court 
may, from time to time, direct what part of the personal property 
shall be sold, and how much of the proceeds of such sale, and of 
the rents and profits of the real estate, if any, shall be applied 
towards the maintenance of the wife and children of the person so 
abandoning, neglecting, or refusing such support. 1 —(§1812.) 

(21.) Sec. 13. The superintendents shall sell at public vendue 
the property so ordered to be sold, and recover the rents and profits 
of the real estate of the person so abandoning, neglecting, or refus¬ 
ing maintenance as aforesaid, and shall apply the same to the 
maintenance of the wife and children of the person aforesaid, and 
for that purpose shall draw on the county treasurer therefor, and 
they shall account to the said county [circuit] court for all mon¬ 
eys so received by them, and for the application thereof, from time 
to time, and may be compelled by said court to render such acount 
at any time. 1 —(§1813.) 

(22.) Sec. 14. Whenever a party whose property has been seized 
by a superintendent of the poor, shall come forward and give such 
security as shall be approved by two of the superintendents of the 
poor of such county, that the wife or children of such party shall 
not become, or thereafter be chargeable to the county, then the 
property so seized and remaining unappropriated, or the proceeds 
thereof, after deducting the expenses of the proceedings aforesaid, 
shall be restored to such party. 1 —(§1814.) 

(23.) Sec. 15. When any personal property, other than per¬ 
sonal clothing, shall have been brought to the poorhouse with any 
pauper, and the same shall come into the hands of the superinten¬ 
dents of the poor, it shall be competent for the superintendents of 
the poor, on application to any justice of the peace of the county 
in which said poorhouse is situated, on proof of the facts before 
said justice, to obtain an order for the sale of any personal property 
that such pauper may own, at public auction, of all or any of 
such personal property, for the support of such pauper; whereupon 
it shall be competent for such superintendents of the poor to sell 
the same at public auction, giving the same notice as is required on 
constable’s sales, and the proceeds of said sale shall be placed by 
said superintendents in the treasury of the county. It shall be 
lawful for the person to whom said property shall belong at the 
time of said sale, when he shall cease to be a county charge, to 
apply for the payment of the proceeds thereof to said superintend¬ 
ents of the poor, who are authorized to draw their order on said 
treasurer for so much of such amount as shall not have been 
expended for the maintenance of said owner or his family, and said 

1 Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, as amended by Act 158 of the Laws of 1869, p. 313, 
approved April 5, 1869. ’ 1 ’ 





SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


7 


treasurer shall pay the same to the person entitled thereto: Pro - Proviso. 
vuled, That in no case shall the property of any insane pauper be 
sold until the disease of such pauper shall be pronounced by the Incurable insan- 
Medical Superintendent of the State Insane Asylum to be a case of lty ' 
incurable insanity. 1 —(§1815.) 


VI. Support op Poor Persons by the Public. 


An act to revise and consolidate the several acts relating to the support and main¬ 
tenance of poor persons. 

Laws of 1869, p. 271. Approved April 5, 1869. 

(24.) Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact , Poor persons, 
That every poor person who is blind, old, lame, sick, or decrepit, maiSned by 
or in any other way disabled or enfeebled, so as to be unable to count y* 
maintain himself, and who shall not be relieved or maintained by 
his relatives, as provided in chapter thirty-seven of the Revised 
Statutes of eighteen hundred and forty-six, shall be maintained 
by the county in which he may be, according to the following 
provisions.—(§1816.) 

(25.) Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the supervisors of each Appointment of 
county, at their annual meeting in the year eighteen hundred and ofpoo? endents 
sixty-nine, to appoint three discreet electors of such county to be 
superintendents of the poor within the same; one for the term of 
one year, one for the term of two years, and one for the term of 
three years; each to hold his office until another shall be appointed Term of office, 
in his place and duly qualified ; and at their annual session in each 
year thereafter, and they shall appoint one for the term of three 
years and until his successor is chosen and qualified; and such oaths, 
superintendent shall take the oath of office prescribed in the eight¬ 
eenth article of the constitution, and file the same with the county 
clerk.—(§1817.) 

(26.) Sec. 3. A majority of the persons so appointed shall be Majority may 
at all times competent to transact business and to execute any transact business 
powers vested in the board of superintendents; and they shall be compensation, 
allowed such sum for their actual attendance and services as the 
board of supervisors of the county shall deem reasonable.—(§1818.) 

(27.) Sec. 4. They shall be a corporation, by the name of the Tobe a corpora- 
superintendents of the poor of the county for which they shall be tlon ’ 
appointed, and shall possess the usual powers of a corporation for powers as such, 
public purposes, and they shall meet as often as the board of super- Meetings, where 
visors of the county shall direct, at the county poor-house, if there held * 
be one, and if not, then at the place of holding the circuit court 
in their county, and at such other times and places as they shall 
deem necessary.—(§1819.) 


i Added by Act 177 of the Laws of 1867, p. 230, approved March 27, 1867. 







LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Powers and 
duties of the 
superintendents 
of the poor. 

To have charge 
of county poor- 
houses, etc. 


To ordain rules, 
etc. 


To employ keep¬ 
ers, etc. 


To purchase ma¬ 
terials, etc. 


Proviso prohibit¬ 
ing the purchase 
of materials, etc., 
of superintend¬ 
ent. 


To prescribe rate 
of allowance for 
bringing paupers 
to poor-house. 


To prosecute 
suits, etc. 


To draw on 
county treasurer 
for expenses. 


(28.) Sec. 5. They shall have the general superintendence of all 
the poor Avho may be in their respective counties, and shall have 
power, and it shall be their duty: 

First , To have charge of the county poor-house that has been 
or shall be erected, and to provide suitable places for the keeping 
of such poor, when so directed by the board of supervisors, when 
houses for that purpose shall not have been erected by the county; 
and for that purpose to rent a tenement or tenements, and land 
not exceeding eighty acres, and to cause the poor of the county to 
be maintained at such places; 

Second , To ordain and establish prudential rules, regulations, 
and by-laws, and for the government and good order of such places 
so provided, and of the county poor-houses, and for the employ¬ 
ment, relief, management, and government of the persons therein 
placed; 

Third , To employ one or more suitable persons to be keepers of 
such houses or places, and all necessary officers and servants; and 
to vest in them such powers for the government of such houses as 
shall be necessary, reserving to the paupers who may be placed 
under the care of such keepers, the right to appeal to the superin¬ 
tendents ; 

Fourth , To purchase the furniture, implements, provisions, and 
materials that shall be necessary for the maintenance of the poor 
and their employment and labor, and to sell and dispose of the 
proceeds of such labor as they shall deem expedient: Provided , 
That no furniture, implements, provisions, or materials shall be 
purchased of a superintendent of the poor; and any superintendent 
being the owner of any such furniture, implements, provisions, or 
materials sold to or purchased by sucli superintendents, or inter¬ 
ested directly or indirectly in the profits on any such furniture, 
implements, provisions, or materials, by commission or otherwise, 
shall forfeit his interest in the same; and in addition to such for¬ 
feiture, a penalty of fifty dollars for each and every violation of 
the prohibitions and terms of this proviso is hereby imposed, to be 
collected by and in the name of the county treasurer, in the same 
manner as the forfeiture provided for and by section twenty-five of 
the act to which this act is amendatory; 

Fifth , To prescribe the rate of allowance to be made to any 
person for bringing paupers to the county poor-house, or place pro¬ 
vided for the poor, which amount shall be paid by the county 
treasurer, on the production of a certificate signed by the chair¬ 
man and countersigned by the secretary of the board of superin¬ 
tendents ; 

Sixth , To commence any suit wherein they may be entitled to 
prosecute upon any recognizance, bond, or security taken for the 
indemnity of any township or of the county, and prosecute the 
same to effect; 

Seventh , To draw, from time to time, on the county treasurer 
for all necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, 
which draft shall be paid by him out of the moneys placed in his 
hands for the support of the poor; 





SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


9 


Eighth , To render to the board of supervisors of their county, To render annual 
at their annual meeting, a detailed account of all moneys received accounts * 
and expended by them, or undtfr their directions, and of all their 
proceedings; 

Ninth, To pay over all moneys belonging to the county remain- To pay over 
ing in their hands, to the county treasurer, within fifteen days moueys ' 
after receiving the same. 1 —(§18^0.) 

(29.) Sec. 0. The board of supervisors of any county in this Power of board 
State in which a county poor-house is not already erected may, at plirchasITand to 
any annual or special meeting thereof, determine to erect such a XrZu 8 e.° unty 
house for the reception of the poor of their county; and upon filing 
such determination with the clerk of the county, they may direct 
the superintendents of the poor of such county to purchase one or 
more tracts of land, not exceeding three hundred and twenty acres, 
and to erect thereon one or more suitable buildings for the purpose 
aforesaid.—(§1821.) 

(30.) Sec. 7. To defray the expenses of such purchase and Expense of pin-, 
buildings, the said board of supervisors may raise by tax on the beSedb^S 
taxable real and personal property within the same county, a sum 
not exceeding twelve thousand dollars, in such installments and Limit of same, 
at such times as they may judge expedient; and such tax shall be 
raised, assessed, and collected in the same manner as the other How assessed and 

county charges, and shall be paid by the county treasurer, upon paid * 

the order of the superintendents of the poor, to be applied for the 
purposes aforesaid.—(§1822.) 

(31.) Sec. 8. When any poor person or persons shall apply for when person to 
relief to a county superintendent of the poor, or to the supervisor county poor- 
of any township, city, or ward, the said superintendent of the poor, m 
or supervisor, shall make immediate personal inquiry into the state 
and circumstances of the applicant; and if it shall appear that 
the person so applying is in such indigent circumstances as to 
require permanent relief and support, and can be safely removed, 
such superintendent or supervisor shall, by a written order, cause 

such poor person to be removed to the county poor-house, to be 

received and provided for as his necessities may require; but if it Temporary relief 
shall appear that any such poor person so applying for relief poor persons * 
requires but temporary or partial support, or is so sick, lame, or 
otherwise disabled that such person cannot be safely or conven¬ 
iently removed to the poor-house, then the superintendent or super¬ 
visor may cause provisions to be made, under his own direction, 
for the temporary or partial relief and support of such poor per¬ 
son, which support, when furnished by a supervisor, shall in no Limit of amount 
case exceed the sum of twenty dollars in any one year, unless by sofurmshed - 
the consent, in writing, of a county superintendent of the poor.— 

(§1823.) 

(32.) Sec. 9. Every such person so removed shall be received Persons removed 
by the keeper of the county poorhouse, and shall be supported MdrSeredby 
and relieved therein, under the direction of the superintendents, keeper - 
until it shall appear to them that such person is able to maintain 


i As amended by act No. 77, Laws of 1875, p. 115. Approved April 9, 1875. 

2 





10 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


When superin¬ 
tendents may 
discharge. 
Supervisor who 
has afforded re¬ 
lief shall report 
to superintend¬ 
ent. 


Also to board of 
supervisors. 

Contents of 
statement. 


Supervisor to 
receive order on 
county treasurer 
for sums paid, 
etc. 

Limiting 
amount to he 
expended. 


Per diem of 
supervisor when 
caring for the 
poor. 


Provision for 
support of idiots 
and lunatics, out 
of county house. 


Punishment for 
removing pau¬ 
pers from one 
county to 
another. 


Paupers so 
removed, to be 
cared for and 
notice sent to 
superintendent 
of proper county 


himself, when the said superintendents may, in their discretion, 

discharge him.—(§1824.) , 

(33.) Sec. 10. In all cases where relief has been afforded as 
provided in section eight of this chapter, said supervisor shall, 
within ten days, make, in writing, to the superintendent of the 
poor of the county, a report of his doings in every case of relief 
so afforded, specifying the articles furnished and the value of 
each item thereof, and said supervisor shall make to the board 
of supervisors at their annual meeting, a statement in wiiting, 
showing the number of persons to whom such temporary relief 
has been granted, and the names of such persons and the 
amount granted to each, with the peculiar items of such expendi¬ 
tures, and also the number of persons, with the names of each 
removed to the county poorhouse from each township by the order 
of the supervisor of such township, and the date of such removal. 
—(§1825.) 

(34.) Sec. 11. The supervisor of the township, city, or ward, 
shall be entitled to receive from the superintendents of the poor, an 
order on the county treasurer for any sum which he may have paid 
out or contracted to pay, within the amount specified in section 
eight; but no greater sum than twenty dollars shall be so expended 
or paid for relief of any one person or one family, without the 
sanction in writing of the superintendents of the poor of the 
county; and such supervisor shall be entitled to a compensation 
of one dollar and fifty cents for each day, and at the same rate 
for parts of a day, actually and necessarily devoted by him to the 
care of such poor person.—(§1826.) 

(35.) Sec. 12. The superintendents may provide for the sup¬ 
port of paupers that may be idiots or lunatics, out of the county 
poorhouse, in such place and in such manner as shall best promote 
the interests of the county and conduce to the comfort and recov¬ 
ery of such paupers.—(§i827.) 

(36.) Sec. 13. Any person who shall send, carry, transport, 
remove, or bring, or who shall cause or procure to be sent, carried, 
transported, removed, or brought, any poor or indigent person 
from any county into any other county, without legal authority, 
and there leave such poor person, or who shall entice such poor 
person so to remove, with intent to make any such county to 
which the removal shall be made chargeable with the support of 
such pauper, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on 
conviction thereof shall be imprisoned in the county jail not 
exceeding three months, or fined not exceeding one hundred dol¬ 
lars, or both, in the discretion of the court.—(§1828.) 

(37.) Sec. 14. The pauper so brought, removed, or enticed, shall 
be maintained and provided for by the superintendents of the poor 
of the county where he may be, and the said superintendents may 
give notice to either of the superintendents of the poor of x the 
county from which such pauper removed, or was brought or enticed, 
informing them of such improper removal, and requiring them 
forthwith to take charge of such pauper.—(§1829.) 



SUPPORT OP POOR PERSONS. 


II 


(38.) Sec. 15. The superintendents to whom such notice maybe superintendent 
directed shall, within thirty days after the service thereof, take to C pay expenses 6 / 
and remove such pauper to their county, and pay the expenses etc -> or . den y 
incurred in giving such notice, and in maintaining such pauper removal!* 1 ° 
from the time of his becoming a charge to the county in which he 
is maintained j or they shall, within the time aforesaid, notify the 
superintendents from whom such notice was received, or either of 
them, that they deny the allegation of such improper removal or 
enticing.— (§1830.) 

(39.) Sec. 16. If the superintendents to whom a notice shall superintendents 
have been given, as provided in the fifteenth section of this act, m^vepfup^ror 
shall omit to take and remove such pauper as shall neglect to den 6 a?°shaii°be 
notify such denial within the time aforesaid, they shall be liable liable ex- 
for said expenses so long as such pauper shall remain a charge; penses ' 
and an action for such expenses may be maintained, from time to 
time, by and in the name of the superintendents incurring the 
same, or their successors in office, against the superintendents so 
made liable, and their successors in office.— (§183 L.) 

(40.) Sec. 17. Upon receiving any such notice of denial, as when notice of 
aforesaid, the superintendents upon whom the same may have action shall be edi 
been served shall, within three months thereafter, commence an commenced for 
action against the superintendents of the poor of the county to port, etc. 
whom the first notice was directed, for the expenses of supporting 
such pauper, as for moneys paid, laid out, and expended, and shall 
prosecute the same to effect; and if such action be not commenced 
within the time aforesaid, the same shall be forever barred, and no 
action shall thereafter be brought for expenses incurred in support¬ 
ing or maintaining such pauper.— (§1832.) 

(41.) Sec. 18. No supervisor of any township, mayor or alder- who not to be 
man of any city, prosecuting attorney of any county, county clerk, su P enntendent 
or county treasurer shall be appointed to or hold the office of super¬ 
intendent of the poor.— (§1833.) 

(42.) Sec. 19. The keeper of every poor-house shall be exempt Keepers exempt 
from all service in the militia, and from serving on juries, during sSvic™ 1 ia 
the time he shall be such keeper.—(§1834.) 

(43.) Sec. 20. The place which shall be provided for the recep- 
tion of the poor by the county superintendents, pursuant to the houses? 16 P °° r ~ 
provisions of this act, shall in all cases be deemed to be the county 
poor-house; and all the provisions of this act, applicable to county 
poor-houses, shall extend and apply to such places.—(§1835.) 

(44.) Sec. 21. Whenever there shall be in any county ten or ^uT^chiidren 
more paupers over five and under eighteen years of age, the super- pauper c 1 ren * 
intendents of the poor of such county shall cause the same to be 
taught and educated in an apartment of the county poor-house, to 
be fitted up for that purpose if it shall be convenient, and if not, 
then in some building or apartment to be provided by them for 
that purpose; and there shall be taught in such school the branches What branches 
usually taught in the primary schools of this State; and the super- tobetau s ht - 
intendents are required to provide for the education of such pau¬ 
pers for at least one-half of the time they shall be under their 



12 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Expenses, how 
paid. 

Proviso. 


Penalty for re - 
moving pauper 
from another 
State. 


Magistrate may 
require security, 
etc. 


Punishment for 
refusal to give 
security. 


All moneys re¬ 
ceived by super¬ 
intendent, etc., to 
be paid to county 
treasurer. 


-On neglect, how 
same recovered. 


Liability of su¬ 
perintendent for 
neglect to ac¬ 
count. 


Estimate for 
yearly expenses. 


Collection of 
same. 


charge, and the expense thereof shall be paid in the same manner 
as other contingent expenses are paid for the support of such pau¬ 
pers : Provided, That when the number of such persons shall be 
less than ten, then the said superintendents shall make such pro¬ 
vision for their education as to'them shall seem just and proper.— 
(§1836.) 

(45.) Sec. 22. Any person who shall bring or remove, or cause 
to be brought or removed, any poor or indigent person, from any 
place without this State, into any county within it, with intent to 
make such county chargeable with the support of such paupers, 
shall forfeit and pay fifty dollars, to be recovered before any justice 
of the peace of the county into which such pauper shall be brought, 
or in which the offender may be; and shall also be obliged to con¬ 
vey such pauper out of the State, or support him at his own 
expense.—(§1837.) 

(46.) Sec. 23. It shall be lawful for the justice or court before 
whom such person shall be convicted for a violation of the pro¬ 
visions of the preceding section, to require of such person satisfac¬ 
tory security that he will, within a reasonable time, to be named 
by the justice or court, transport such person out of the State, or 
indemnify such county for all charges and expenses which may 
have been or may be incurred in the support of such pauper; and 
if such person shall neglect or refuse to give such security when 
required, it shall be the duty of the justice or court to commit him 
to the county jail for a term not exceeding three months.—(§1838.) 

(47.) Sec. 24. All moneys which shall be collected by any 
superintendent, or by the supervisor of any township, city, or ward, 
or received by any of them on any bond or other security given for 
the benefit or indemnity of any county, or of any township, city, or 
ward, and all other moneys which shall be received by such super¬ 
intendent or supervisor for the benefit of the poor, shall be by 
them paid over, within fifteen days after the receipt of the same, to 
the county treasurer; and if not so paid, the same maybe recovered 
in an action as for money had and received, to be brought by and 
in the name of the county treasurer, with interest at the rate of 
ten per cent from the time the same shall [should] have been 
paid over.—(§1839.) 

(48.) Sec. 25. Every superintendent who shall neglect or refuse 
so to render an account or statement, or to pay over any moneys 
as required in this act, shall forfeit the sum of two hundred 
and fifty dollars, and shall also be liable to an action by and in 
the name of the county treasurer, as for moneys had and received, 
for all moneys which may be in his hands after the expiration of 
his term of office, with interest thereon from the time when the 
same ought to have been paid over.—(§1840.) 

(49.) Sec. 26. The superintendents of the poor in each county 
shall present to the board of supervisors at their annual meeting 
in each year, an estimate of the sum which, in their opinion, will 
be necessary during the ensuing year for the support of the county 
poor; and the said supervisors shall cause such sum as they may 
deem necessary for that purpose to be assessed, levied, and col- 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


13 


lected in the same manner as the other contingent expenses of the 
county, to be paid to the county treasurer, and by him to be kept 
as a separate fund, distinct from the other funds of the county.— 

(§1841.) 

(50.) Sec. 27. The accounts of the supervisors and of justices Accounts of su. 
of the peace, for any personal or official services rendered by them IScTs^ww 
in relation to the poor, shall be audited and settled by the superin- audited and paid, 
tendents, and be paid on their order by the county treasurer; but 
no allowance shall be made to any officer for attending any board 
with accounts, for the purpose of having the same audited or paid. 

-(§1842.) 

(51.) Sec. 28. It shall be the duty of the superintendents of Superintendents 
the poor of each county, on or before the twentieth day of October make annual 
in each year, to report to the Secretary of the State, for the year Sfy oVstSe. re * 
ending on the thirtieth day of September next preceding, and in 
such form as such Secretary shall direct, the condition of such poor- 
house during the preceding year; which report shall contain a state- what report 
inent of the number of paupers, insane, idiots, blind, mutes, and sicl conain * 
the average number of each class maintained during the preceding 
year; also the cost of supporting such persons in the poorhouse; 
the salary of the keeper thereof; the amount paid for medical 
attendance; the estimated amount earned by paupers, and their 
nationality; the amount paid for the transportation of paupers; 
the amount paid to supervisors for services; the amount paid to 
superintendents of the poor; the number of persons who have 
received temporary relief outside [of] the poorhouse during the 
year; and the amount paid for such relief; the value of county 
farms, including buildings; the value of all personal property 
belonging or attached to such poorhouse and farm, and the income 
received from the county farm. Such report shall also contain a 
statement of the general condition of the farm-house and other 
buildings, the manner in which paupers are treated, how they are 
fed, clothed, and in what manner such persons are cared for; 
how the insane and idiots are kept, and what are their accommoda¬ 
tion and treatment; how the pauper children are educated; what 
the facilities are for bathing, heating, and ventilation, and to in¬ 
clude all other information necessary to give a complete account of 
the condition of such poor-house. 1 — (§1843.) 

(52.) Sec. 29. Any superintendent who shall neglect or refuse Liability of su- 
to make such report as aforesaid, or who shall willfully make any S^ecuo^eport. 
false report, shall forfeit one hundred dollars; and the Secretary n0 . 

of State shall give notice to the prosecuting attorney of the county tice ^ prosecu^ 
of every such neglect or refusal, or misconduct. —(§1844.) such neglect. 

(53.) Sec. 30. The Secretary of State shall annually lay before secretary of 
the Legislature, during the first month of its session, an abstract foLegiiann?. 
of said report. 2 —(§1845.) 

(54.) Sec. 31. The provisions of this act shall not apply to the Detroit 
City Of Detroit.— (§1846.) exempted. 


1 As amended by Act No. 73, Laws of 1871, p. 92; Act No. 103, Laws of 1875, p. 141, 
and Act No. 154, Laws of 1877, p. 147. 

2 See section 231 of the Compiled Laws. 




14 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Where distinc¬ 
tion between 
town and county 
poor is not 
abolished. 


Who deemed 
settled in town¬ 
ships. 


How minor may 
gain settlement. 


Settlement of 
paupers. 


Where poor per- 
sons to be sup¬ 
ported. 


THE SUPPORT OF THE POOR BY TOWNSHIPS. 

(55.) Sec. 32. In those counties in which the distinction be¬ 
tween township and county poor shall not be abolished by the board 
of supervisors, the poor having a settlement in any township in 
such counties shall be supported at the expense of such township, 
and the poor not having such settlement shall be supported by the 
county in which they may be, as hereinbefore provided.—(§1847.) 

(56.) Sec. 33. Every person of full age who shall have been a 
resident and inhabitant of any township for one year, and the 
members of his family who shall not have gained a separate settle¬ 
ment, shall be deemed settled in such township. A minor may be 
emancipated from his or her father, and may gain a settlement— 

First , If a female, by being married and living one year with 
her husband, in which case the husband’s settlement shall deter¬ 
mine that of the wife; 

Second, , If a male, by being married and residing separately from 
the family of his father; 

Ihird, By being bound as an apprentice, and serving one year 
by virtue of such indentures; 

Fourth , by being hired and actually serving for one year for 
wages to be paid such minor.—(§1848.) 

(57.) Sec. 34. A woman of full age, by marrying, shall acquire 
the settement of her husband, if he have any; and until a poor 
person shall have gained a settlement in his own right, his settle¬ 
ment shall be deemed that of his father or mother; but no child 
born in any place used and occupied as a residence for the poor of 
the township, city, or county, shall gain any settlement merely by 
reason of the place of such birth; nor shall any child, born while 
the mother is a county pauper, gain any settlement by reason of 
the place of its birth; and no residence of any person as a pauper, 
in the county poor-house, or place provided for the support of the 
poor in any township, while supported at the expense of any town¬ 
ship or county, shall operate to give such pauper a settlement in 
the township where such actual residence may be had.—(§1849.) 

(58.) Sec. 35. No person shall be removed as a pauper from any 
city or township to any other city or township of the same or any 
other county, nor from any county to any other county; but every 
poor person shall be supported in the township or county where he 
may be, as follows: 

First, If he has gained a settlement in any township in such 
county, he shall be maintained by such township; 

Second, If he has not gained a settlement in the county in 
which he shall become poor, sick, or infirm, he shall be supported 
by the superintendents of the poor, at the expense of the county; 

Third, If such person be in a county where the distinction 
between township and county poor is abolished, he shall, in like 
manner, be supported at the expense of the county, and in both 
the cases aforesaid, proceedings for his relief shall be had as here¬ 
inbefore provided; 

Fourth, If such pauper shall be in a county where the respect- 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


15 


ive townships are liable to support their poor, and has gained a 
settlement in some other township of the same county than that 
in which he may then be, he shall be supported at the expense of 
the township where he may be; and the supervisor shall give 
notice in writing to the supervisor of the township to which such 
pauper shall belong, or to one of them, requiring them to provide 
for the relief and support of such pauper.—(§1850.) 

(59.) Sec. 36. If, within ten days after the service of such 
notice, the supervisor to whom the same was directed shall not from contesting 
proceed to contest the allegation of the settlement of such pauper, settlement * 
by giving the notice hereinafter directed, such supervisors, their 
successors, and the township which they represent, shall be forever 
precluded from contesting or denying such settlement. Such Supervisors to 
supervisor may, within the time aforesaid, give notice in writing to appearance be. 
the supervisor of the township where such pauper may be, that he {endent s erin ’ 
will appear before the county superintendents, at a place and on a 
day therein to be specified, which day shall be at least ten days 
and not more than thirty days from the time of the service of 
such notice, to contest the said alleged settlement. The county Power of super 
superintendents are hereby authorized for such purposes to issue Umpefittend. 
subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses, and to administer witness - 
oaths to them in the same manner, with the like power to enforce 
such process, as is given justices of the peace in any matter cog¬ 
nizable by them. Their decisions shall be filed in the office of the 
county clerk within thirty days after they are made, and shall be 
conclusive and final upon all parties interested.—(§1851.) 

(60.) Sec. 37. The county superintendents shall convene when-when superin- 

J * -I-, . , , , ,. tendents to con- 

ever required by any supervisor, pursuant to such notice, and shall veno to hear the 
proceed to hear and determine the controversy, and may award controvers y- 
costs, not exceeding ten dollars to the prevailing party, which may 
be recovered in any action before a court of competent jurisdiction. 

—(§1852.) 

(61.) Sec. 38. The supervisor of the township in which it may supervisor on 
be alleged any pauper has gained a settlement may, at any time may take and 00 
after receiving such notice requiring him to provide for such pau- maintain pauper, 
per, take and receive such pauper to his township and there sup¬ 
port him. If he omit to do so, or shall fail to obtain the decision Proceedings 
of the county superintendents, so as to exonerate him from the ^ 0 h t e 0 n d h 0 ® omits 
maintenance of such pauper, the charge of giving such notice, and 
the expenses of maintaining such pauper, after being allowed by 
the county superintendents, shall be laid before the board of super¬ 
visors at their annual meetings, from year to year, as long as such 
expenses shall be incurred; and the supervisor shall annually add 
the amount of the said charges to the tax to be laid upon the 
township to which the pauper belongs, together with such sum in 
addition thereto as will pay the township incurring such expenses 
the lawful interest thereon, from the time of expenditure to the 
iime of payment, which sums shall be assessed, levied, and collected 
in the same manner as the other contingent expenses of such 
township. The said moneys, when collected, shall be paid to the 



1G 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


When support 
charged to 
county. 

Notice to be 
given when 
expenses of a 
county pauper 
are to be charged 
to township. 


Decision of 
board of super¬ 
intendents to be 
recorded and 
filed with county 
clerk. 


Effect of original 
or copy. 


Treasurers of 
certain counties 
to keep separate 
account with 
townships. 


Annual state¬ 
ment by super¬ 
intendents to 
county treasurer. 


Proviso. 


county treasurer, and be by him credited to the account of the 
township which incurred the said expense.—(§1853.) 

(62.) Sec. 39. The support of any pauper shall not he charged 
to the county without the sanction of the superintendents. If a 
pauper be sent to the county poor-house, or place provided for the 
poor, as a county pauper, "the superintendents in those counties 
where the respective townships are required to support their own 
poor shall immediately inquire into the fact, and if they are of 
opinion that such pauper has a legal settlement in any township 
of the said county, they shall, within thirty days after such pauper 
shall have been received, give notice to the supervisor of the town¬ 
ship to which such pauper belongs, that the expenses of his sup¬ 
port will be charged to such township, unless the said supervisor, 
within such time as the said superintendents shall appoint, not less 
than twenty days thereafter, show that such township ought not to 
be so charged. And on the application of the said supervisor, the 
superintendents shall re-examine the matter, and take testimony 
in relation thereto, and shall decide the question, which decision 
shall be final.—(§1854.) 

(63.) Sec. 40. The decisions of the board of county superin¬ 
tendents, in relation to the settlement of any paupers, or to their 
being a charge upon the county, shall be entered in books to be 
provided for that purpose, and certified by the signatures of such 
of the said superintendents as make such decisions; and a dupli¬ 
cate thereof, certified in the same manner, shall be filed in the 
county clerk’s office within thirty days after the making of any 
such decision. Such original, or a copy thereof, duly certified, 
shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein contained.— 
(§1855.) ^ 

(64.) Sec. 41. In those counties where the respective town¬ 
ships are required to support their poor, the county treasurers 
thereof shall, respectively, open and keep an account with each 
township, in which the township shall be credited witli all the mon¬ 
eys received from the same, or from its officers, and shall be 
charged with the expense actually incurred by the superintendents 
for the support of such of the township poor as may be supported 
at the county poorhouse, and chargeable to such township, if there 
be a county poorhouse, or other place provided in such county for 
the support of the poor; and the superintendents of the poor 
of the county shall, in each year, before the annual meeting of 
the board of supervisors of such county, furnish to the county 
treasurer a statement of the sums charged by them, as hereinafter 
directed, to the several townships for the support of their poor at 
the county poorhouse as aforesaid, which shall be charged to each 
township respectively by the county treasurer in his accounts: 
Provided , That in determining the amount of such expense, no 
estimate shall be made of the original expense incurred in the 
purchase or building of such poorhouse, and the real estate belong¬ 
ing therewith, and the permanent and valuable improvements made 
thereon. 1 —(§1856.) 


1 As amended by act 155 of the Laws of 1871, p. 239, approved April 15,1871. 






SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


17 


(65.) Sec. 42. In those counties in which a poorhouse shall be 
established, or a place provided by the superintendents for the 
reception of the poor, and in which the several townships shall be 
liable for the support of their poor therein respectively, it shall be 
the duty of the superintendents annually, and during the week 
preceding the annual meeting of the board of supervisors, to make 
out a statement of all the expenses incurred by them the preced¬ 
ing year, and of the moneys received, and exhibiting the deficiency, 
if any, in the funds provided for the defraying of such expenses; 
and they shall apportion the said deficiency among the said several 
townships, in proportion to the number and expenses of the pau¬ 
pers belonging to the said townships, respectively, in the manner 
provided for in the preceding section, who shall have been sup¬ 
ported at the county poorhouse, and shall charge said deficiencies 
to the townships liable therefor; which statement shall be by them 
delivered to the county treasurer, as before directed. 1 —(§1857.) 

(66.) Sec. 43. At the annual meeting of the board of supervi¬ 
sors, the county treasurer shall lay before them the account so 
kept by him ; and if it shall appear that there is a balance against 
any township, the said board shall add the same to the amount of 
taxes to be levied and collected upon such township, with the 
other contingent expenses thereof, together with such a sum for 
interest, at the rate of seven per centum per annum, as will reim¬ 
burse and satisfy any advances that may be made, or that may have 
been made from the county treasurer for such township, which 
moneys, when collected, shall be paid to the county treasurer.— 
(§1858.) 

(67.) Sec. 44. On the Tuesday next preceding the annual town¬ 
ship meeting of every township, the supervisors of their respective 
towns shall lay the said original books before the township board, 
together with a just and true account of all moneys by them 
received and expended for the use of the poor, and in what manner, 
together with an account of the earnings of the poor persons by 
them employed, which account shall be verified by the oath 
of the supervisor, and shall be filed with the township clerk. 
The township board shall compare the said account with the 
entries in the poor-books aforesaid, and examine the vouchers in 
support thereof, and shall audit and settle the same, and state the 
balance due from such supervisor, or to them, as the case may be. 
No credit shall be allowed to any supervisor for moneys paid, 
unless it shall appear that such payment was made pursuant to a 
legal order.—(§1.859.) 

(68.) Sec. 45. Every such supervisor who shall refuse or neglect 
to present such original books, or to exhibit such accounts to the 
township board, as required iu the preceding section, shall forfeit 
the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, to be recovered by and in 
the name of the treasurer of such township.—(§1860.) 

(69.) Sec. 46. In those counties where the respective townships 
are made liable for the support of their poor, it shall be the duty 


j As amended by Act 155 of the Laws of 1871, p. 239, approved April 15, 1871. 

3 


Annual state¬ 
ment of receipts 
and expendi • 
tu res at poor¬ 
house. 


Apportionment 
of deficiency. 


County treasurer 
shall present 
account to hoard 
of supervisors at 
annual meeting, 
etc. 


When supervi¬ 
sors to present 
original books, 
etc., to town 
board. 


Town board to 
compare ac¬ 
counts, etc. 


When credit 
allowed to super¬ 
visor. 


Penalty for neg¬ 
lect to exhibit 
accounts,^etc. 


Duty of township 
clerk at annual 
township meet¬ 
ing. 




18 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Estimated by 
supervisor. 


Electors to de¬ 
termine amount 
to be assessed for 
support of poor. 


Eelative to pay¬ 
ment for services 
of supervisors 
and justices. 


Duty of super¬ 
visor relative to 
suits for recovery 
of penalties. 


Allowance of 
certain costs to 
supervisor. 


Credit for such 
allowances, etc. 


Annual report, 
by supervisors of 
number relieved 
and expense. 


of the township clerk to examine, at the annual township meetings, 
the accounts for the support of the poor therein the preceding year, 
as the same shall have been allowed and passed by the township 
board, which accounts shall be openly and distinctly read by 
the clerk of the meeting; and the supervisors of their respective 
towns shall also present an estimate of the sum which they shall 
deem necessary, to supply any deficiency of the preceding year, 
and to provide for the support of the poor for the ensuing year.— 
(§1861.) 

(70.) Sec. 47. The inhabitants of such township shall thereupon, 
by a vote of a majority of the persons qualified to choose township 
officers, determine upon the sums of money which shall be assessed 
upon the said township the ensuing year for the purpose aforesaid. 
The sum so voted, when raised and collected, shall be paid into the 
township treasury, subject to the order of the township board. 1 — 
(§1862.) 

(71.) Sec. 48. The accounts of such supervisors and justices of 
the peace, for any personal or official services rendered by them in 
relation to the poor, except county paupers, shall be audited and 
settled by the township boards of their respective townships, and 
the sums so audited and allowed shall be paid by the township 
treasurer. No allowance for time or services shall be made to any 
officer for attending any board with any accounts, for the purpose 
of having the same audited or paid. 1 — (§1863.) 

(72.) Sec. 49. Whenever it shall be made to appear to the sat¬ 
isfaction of any supervisor, either upon complaint or otherwise, 
that a penalty has been incurred by the violation of any provisions 
of the laws of this State, which such supervisor is required by law 
to collect, it shall be his duty immediately to commence a suit for 
such penalty, and to prosecute the same diligently to effect.— 
(§1864.) 

(73.) Sec. 50. In auditing the accounts of any supervisor, by 
the proper township board, allowance shall be made to such super¬ 
visor for all costs to which he may have been subjected, or which 
may have been recovered against him, in any suit brought by him 
pursuant to law; and he shall also be allowed the same daily [pay] 
for attending to any such suit as is allowed him for the performance 
of his official duties.—(§1865.) 

(74.) Sec. 51. Such allowances may be credited to them in their 
accounts for moneys collected for penalties, and may be deducted 
from such moneys; and the balance of such penalties shall be paid 
over to the township or county treasurer, as directed by law in 
respect to such penalties.—(§1866.) 

(75.) Sec. 52. It shall be the duty of the supervisors of such 
townships which make their poor a township charge, on or before 
the first day of April in each year, to report to the township board 
of their respective townships, in such form as they shall direct, the 
number of paupers that have been relieved or supported in such 
township the preceding year, and the whole expense of such sup¬ 
port. 1 —(§1867.) 

i As amended by act 155, Laws of 1871, p. 239, approved April 15,1871. 







SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


19 


(76.) Sec. 53. Any supervisor who shall neglect or refuse to 
make such report, or who shall willfully make any false report, 
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof be 
subject to a fine of not exceeding one thousand dollars, to be recov¬ 
ered by the prosecuting attorney of the county, in the name of the 
people of this State, and to be paid into the township treasury. 1 — 
(§1868.) 

(77.) Sec. 54. At any annual meeting of the board of super¬ 
visors of any county, they may, by a two-thirds vote, restore or 
abolish the distinction between town and county poor.—(§1869.) 

(78.) Sec. 55. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the 
provisions of this act are hereby repealed.—(§1870.) 


An act to require supervisors, directors and overseers to make certain annual re- 
ports to the county superintendents of the poor. 

Laws of 1875, p. 144, approved April 22,1875. 

(79.) Section 1 . The People of the State of Michigan enact, 
That it shall be the duty of any director or overseer of the poor 
authorized by law to furnish relief to poor persons, and of the su¬ 
pervisors of each township and ward in this State, annually hereaf¬ 
ter, on or before the first day of October, to make and transmit to 
the county superintendent of the poor of the county in which such 
township or ward is situated, a full statement or report of the num¬ 
ber of poor persons who have been relieved by them during the 
year, with the amount paid for their relief, the amount paid for 
transportation and for medical attendance for such persons, and 
such other facts as shall show fully the whole sum expended by said 
supervisors, directors or overseers of the poor for such purpose, 
including his charges for services; and such report shall be made 
in such form as the Secretary of State may prescribe, and said 
Secretary of State shall prepare, and annually transmit blanks for 
that purpose; and such report shall be made by the supervisors of 
townships that make their poor a township charge, as well as from 
all other supervisors authorized "by law to furnish relief to poor 
persons. 

(80.) Sec. 2. Any supervisor, director, or overseer of the poor who 
shall refuse to make such report shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, 
and on conviction thereof may be punished as prescribed by law for 
the commission of such offense. 

i As amended by Act 155, Laws of 1871, p. 239, approved April 15, 1871. 


Penalty for 
neglect to report, 
etc. 


Power of board 
of supervisors. 


Acts repealed. 


Annual reports 
to superintend¬ 
ents of poor. 


What to contain. 


Secretary of 
State to furnish 
blanks. 


Penalty for re¬ 
fusal to make 
report. 





20 


LAWS KELATHSTG TO THE 


VII. Union Work- houses and Alms-houses. 


Cities or counties 
authorized to 
erect, etc. 


Board of direct¬ 
ors, powers, etc. 


How chosen. 


Idem. 


Vacancy. 


Failure to 
appoint. 


Quarterly meet¬ 
ings of board, 
etc. 


Special meetings. 


Officers of board. 


Quorum. 

By-laws, rules, 
etc. 


An act to provide for the establishment, government, and control ot union work- 
houses and alms-houses. 

Laws of 1877, p. 190. Approved May 22, 1877. 

(81.) Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact , 
That any number of cities or counties may, at their joint charge, 
and for their common use, erect or provide a worjc-house, alms¬ 
house, or poor-house, and purchase land for the use thereof; 
which, at their option, may take the place of their county-poor- 
house. 

(82.) Sec. 2. The ordering, governing, and repairing of such 
house and farm, the appointment of a superintendent and necessary 
assistants, and the power of removing them for misconduct or inca¬ 
pacity or other sufficient cause, and the power to fix the salaries of 
superintendent, assistants, and all employes, shall be vested in a 
joint board of directors, who shall be chosen annually by the com¬ 
mon councils of cities and the boards of supervisors of counties so 
uniting. 

(83.) Sec. 3. Unless all the cities or counties so uniting and 
interested in such work-house shall agree upon a different number, 
each of the parties so uniting shall choose three members of the 
board of directors; and in case of the death of a director, or of his 
removal from the place for which he was chosen, the vacancy may 
be supplied by the body which appointed him. If any city or 
county entitled to appoint directors shall fail to make appointments 
or to fill vacancies on notice of the same, those appointed from the 
other bodies entitled to act in the premises shall have the charge of 
such house and farm until such appointments shall be [are] made 
or vacancies [are] filled. 

(84.) Sec. 4. Stated quarterly meetings of the board of directors 
shall be held on the first Tuesday of January, April, July, and 
October, at the work-house, alms-house, or poor-house under their 
charge, for the purpose of inspecting the management and direct¬ 
ing the business thereof; meetings of the board may be called at 
other times by the directors chosen by any city or county uniting as 
one of the parties for the erection or maintenance of such union 
work-house, alms-house, or poor-house, on giving notice to the other 
members of the board, in such manner as shall have been agreed 
upon at a stated meeting. 

(85.) Sec. 5. The board of directors shall, at their first general 
meeting in each year, choose one of their number as chairman, and 
shall also appoint a clerk, who shall take the constitutional oath of 
office, and shall record all proceedings of the board, and counter¬ 
sign all orders drawn by the chairman. 

(86.) Sec. 6. At any meeting of the board, a majority of the 
members shall constitute a quorum; and at any general quarterly 
meeting, any by-laws, rules, and regulations may be made by vote 
of at least one-half of the members elect, for the ordering and reg- 





SUPPORT OB" POOR PERSONS. 


21 


ulating the house and property under their charge, the payment of 
superintendent, assistants, and employes, and all other matters 
pertaining to the working and interests of such work-house or poor- 
house, not inconsistent with the laws of this State or of the United 
States. 

(87.) Sec. 7. The directors shall receive, as compensation for all Compensation of 
services rendered by them, the sum of two dollars per day for each directors * 
day actually employed in attending the meetings of the directors, 
and six cents per mile for each mile necessarily traveled in going to 
and returning from such meetings, to be paid by the city or county 
appointing such directors. 

(88.) Sec. 8. All the expenses for salaries, wages of employes, Expenses, how 
purchase of grounds, erection of buildings, supplies, medical at- 1>au ’ 
tendance, and all other charges and expenses of the institution 
(except payment for services as directors), shall be paid by the sev¬ 
eral cities or counties so uniting, in proportion to their State tax at 
the time when the expense may have been incurred, or in such pro¬ 
portion as the places interested shall agree. 

(89.) Sec. 9. If any city or county so uniting refuses or neglects Recovery of de- 
to advance or reimburse its proportion ot the expenses or moneys county its pro- 
mentioned in the preceding section, or of any other charges author- pens£ nofex * 
ized under this act, after the same have been adjusted and appor¬ 
tioned by the joint board of directors, the same may be recovered 
of such delinquent city or county before any court of competent 
jurisdiction, in an action of assumpsit, to be brought in the name Board, body cor. 
of such board of directors, who shall, for the purpose of suing and posfofsid^gand 
being sued, be a body corporate, under the name and style to be bcin s sued - 
adopted by such board of directors, and a certificate signed by the 
chairman and countersigned by the clerk, of the corporate name Certificate of 
adopted shall be filed with the Secretary of State, and with the 
clerk of each city or county, immediately after the first meeting 
and organization of the board of directors. 

(90.) Sec. 10. No greater number of persons belonging to any Proportion^of 
city or county uniting for the purpose, shall be received into such received, 
work-house, alms-house, or poorhouse, than such city’s or county’s 
proportion of such house, when the receiving of them would ex¬ 
clude or seriously inconvenience such as belong to other places 
interested. 

(91.) Sec. 11. If any city or county so uniting, refuses or neg- Refusal to pay 
lects to provide its proportion of the necessary expenses of such p^Tcftyor' 9 * 
house, or of the materials, implements, or other means of perform- ieg e n s ! yofprivi * 
ing the work there required, according to the agreement or the 
directions of the joint board of directors, such city or county shall 
be deprived of the privilege of sending any person thither during 
the time of such neglect or refusal. 

(92.) Sec. 12. The superintendent of the work-house, alms-house, Register to be 
or poorhouse shall keep a register ot the names and ages ot the tendent. 
persons committed or received, the places to which they belong, the 
date of reception and discharge, and of their respective earnings. 

The board of directors shall make annual reports to the several dSSo^ 501 * ° 
cities or counties so uniting, and to the Governor of the State, set- 




22 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Apportionment 
of profits and 
earnings. 


Discharge of 
persons. 


Employment of 
persons commit¬ 
ted. 


Idle persons and 
vagrants may be 
committed by 
superintendents 
of the poor, etc. 


Union work- 
house, etc., may 
be discontinued. 


Board of supervi¬ 
sors to provide 
relief. 


ting forth the above items, and also giving the number of inmates, 
age, and sex, at date of report, and such other facts as they 
may deem of general interest. 

(93.) Sec. 13. The profits and earnings arising from the work of 
persons committed to the work-house, if anything shall remain after 
paying the expenses of such work-house, alms-house, or poorhouse, 
shall be apportioned to the several cities, townships, or counties so 
uniting, in proportion to the State tax paid by each at the time of 
such distribution, to be by them used for the support of the poor, 
or for the benefit of the persons committed, or their families, as 
they shall severally determine. 

(94.) Sec. 14. No person committed to the work-house, alms¬ 
house, or poorhouse, shall be discharged within the time for which 
he was committed except by the court or authority which made the 
commitment, the directors at a general or quarterly meeting, or by 
the probate court of the county in which such work-house, or poor¬ 
house is situated, upon good cause shown upon application for the 
purpose. 

(95.) Sec. 15. Every person committed to the work-house or 
poorhouse shall, if able to work, be kept diligently employed in 
labor during the term of his commitment. If he is idle and does 
not perform such reasonable task as is assigned, or is stubborn and 
disorderly, he shall be punished according to the orders and regu¬ 
lations established by the directors. 

(96.) Sec. 16. Idle and indigent persons who shall have no visi¬ 
ble means of support, and vagrants without any settled home or 
business, whether or not they have a legal settlement in the city or 
county, uniting for the establishment of such work-house, or poor¬ 
house, may be committed by the superintendents of the poor for 
such period as they shall determine, or by a justice of the peace 
upon trial and conviction as a vagrant, for a term not exceeding 
one year; and persons so committed shall be held for the time 
specified in the warrant of conviction. 

(97.) Sec. 17. Any such union work-house, alms-house or poor¬ 
house, may be discontinued, or appropriated to any other use, when 
the cities or counties who have united in its erection, shall so deter¬ 
mine, and the proceeds in such case shall be divided according to 
the State tax of each place interested at the time of such discon¬ 
tinuance. 


VIII. Relief of Families of Volunteers. 


An act to provide for the relief, by counties, of the families of volunteers mustered 
from this State into the military service of the United States or of this State. 

Laws of 1861, p. 602. Approved May 10,1861. 

(98.) Section 1 . It shall be the duty of the board of super¬ 
visors of each organized county, at their sessions to be held in the 





SUPPORT OP POOR PERSONS. 


23 


month of June, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and 
at each subsequent session, whenever necessary, to make adequate 
provision for all requisite relief and support of the families of 
the non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates enlisted or 
drafted from their counties, or as substitutes for persons so drafted 
and mustered into the military or naval service of the United 
States or of this State, and for such purposes the said boards of Authorized t0 

• n , i • , . x , r . ■ » borrow money. 

supervisors are severally authorized to borrow money, at a rate of 
interest not exceeding ten per centum per annum, and to issue 
bonds, or other securities, for the sums borrowed, payable at some 
time therein to be mentioned, not exceeding three years from the 
date thereof, and to assess, levy, and collect taxes upon all the real 
and personal property of said counties, not exempt from taxation, 
sufficient to pay such moneys borrowed and to provide the relief 
hereby authorized: Provided , That the family of no person so Proviso, 
drafted and furnishing a substitute shall receive any relief under 
the provisions of this act. 1 —(§1871.) 

(99.) Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of volunteers’ 
any county, at the first regular or special meeting held after this Ju“d! y rehef 
act shall take effect, to establish a separate fund, into which the 
moneys so borrowed, or collected by tax, shall be paid, and be law¬ 
ful for them to direct the transfer of any moneys in the treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, at any time, to such fund. Whenever 
such separate fund shall have been established, it shall be known as 
the “Volunteers’ family relief fund,” and all orders thereafter 
drawn shall be drawn payable out of such fund. 2 —(§1872.) 

(100.) Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the supervisor of each town- officials author, 
ship, and each supervisor, alderman, or other officer representing soidiers^famiiies. 
any city or ward upon the board of supervisors of his county, from 
time to time, to afford such temporary relief as may be necessary 
for the support of such family, not exceeding fifteen dollars per Amount limited, 
month to any one family, and not exceeding, in any case, to any 
family or person, the actual sum necessary, in connection with his, 
her, or their other means of support, to relieve such family or per¬ 
son, which support shall be afforded only in the manner prescribed 
by this act, and in no greater sum than shall be necessary to afford 
the necessary relief. In case of the decease of any non-commis- f f eli r ^ e g l “^ ieB 
sioned officer, musician, or private, while in the service of the United others. 

States or of this State, his family shall be entitled for two years, and 
no longer, after his decease, to the same measure of relief as his 
family would be entitled to receive if he had not deceased: Pro- Proviso. 
vided , That if the widow or minor children of such deceased person 
be entitled to receive the pension allowed to widows and children of 
deceased soldiers, under acts of Congress passed previous to July 
first, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, shall not Have- 
received the same, then said family shall be entitled to relief for 
three years from his decease, unless said pension is sooner obtained. 3 
—(§1873.) _ 

1 As amended by Act 173 of the Laws of 1863, p. 317, approved March 20,1863. 

2 As amended by Act 14 of the Laws of 1862, p. 14, approved January 17, 1862. 

3 As amended by Act 84 of the Laws of 1867, p. 117, approved March 23, 1867. 




24 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Duty of super- (101.) Sec. 4, It shall be the duty of the supervisor or other 
Iffording f reUef. officer, before giving any order for such relief, to ascertain and 
report to the county treasurer of his county, in writing, the fol¬ 
lowing particulars in reference to the person and family seeking 
relief: 

First , The name, rank, company, and regiment, and time, as 
near as may be, of enlisting into the military service, of the officer 
or soldier on whom the family or persons seeking relief are depend¬ 
ent for support, and his place of residence at the time of his 
enlistment; 

Second, The name and age of the person for the time being 
remaining the head of the family, and his or her residence; 

Third, The name and age of each member of the family for 


whom relief is sought; 

Fourth, The amount received from, and the provisions made 
by the soldier for or toward the support of his family and those 
dependent on him; 

Fifth, The measure of relief that the particular family or per¬ 
sons, in his opinion, require per week or month, 
when required The person seeking such relief, and any member of the family 
aSswer n certain of years of discretion, shall answer all questions, and give all 
questions under information to the supervisor or other officer, touching the matters 
aforesaid, and all other things touching his, her, or their means of 
support, circumstances, and necessities, which answer shall be given 
on oatli when required by the supervisor or other officer affording 
relief, which oath said supervisor or officer is hereby authorized to 
administer; and in case the board of supervisors of any county 
shall so direct, said oath shall be administered in all cases of appli- 
Ponaity for false cation for relief as aforesaid; and any false statement, or untruth- 
piicant? nt ° f ap f L d representation, or withholding information sought and inquired 
after by such supervisor or other officer, at any time, intended to 
deceive such officer, or procure a larger measure of relief than 
otherwise would be afforded, shall forfeit by such person or family 
all further relief under this act; and the supervisor or other officer 
may incorporate in the same report such information and particu¬ 
lars of one or more families, and shall from time to time re-inquire 
and report in reference to any family or persons, and change the 
measure of relief, as his, her, or their circumstances and necessi¬ 
ties may seem to require. 1 —(§1874.) 

Reports, h °w (102.) Sec. 5. All reports shall be signed by the supervisor, or 
other officer or person making the same, and shall contain, as far 
as he has been able to ascertain, the material facts and circumstan¬ 
ces tending to show the measure of relief required by such family 
Duty of county or persons. All such reports shall be indorsed by the county 

treasurer, with the date of receiving the same, and be hied and 
preserved in his office; and such county treasurer shall procure, 
at the expense of his county, a book, in which he shall register 
the names of every person so reported to him, and the amount of 
relief stated by such report as required for each family, and noting 


1 As amended by Act 14, Laws of 1862, p. 14, approved January 17,1862. 






SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


25 


from time to time any changes shown by further report in refer¬ 
ence to that particular family; and the county treasurer shall pay 
no order drawn or given under this act, unless the family or person 
in whose behalf the same is given shall have been first reported to 
him, as aforesaid. 1 —(§1875.) 

(103.) Sec. 6. Such supervisor or other officer, for the purpose orders for relief 
•of carrying out the objects contemplated in this act, may give the b county tS- 
orders upon the county treasurer of his county, payable only to the urer * 
person, or order, who is for the time being the head of the family 
to whom relief is afforded, but in no case to a greater amount than 
fifteen dollars per month, nor in any case for a greater sum per 
month than shall be actually necessary, taking into consideration 
the number, and pecuniary and other circumstances of the person 
or persons relieved, which orders shall be paid out of any moneys Ho w paid, 
-appropriated for that purpose. 2 — (§1876.) 

(104.) Sec. 7. The board of supervisors are hereby authorized Buies and regu. 
to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations, not inconsistent tolhe^eiKf 
with the provisions of this act, as shall secure prompt relief to families * 
families and persons, and may modify the amount of relief from 
time to time afforded, by any supervisor or other officer, to any 
family or persons, as in their judgment the particular case may 
require, and as shall be just; and every supervisor and other officer 
shall be governed thereafter by such modification in the amount 
of relief or otherwise, and shall give no orders contrary to the 
terms of any .such modification, nor shall the county treasurer pay 
a greater amount of orders drawn by any such supervisor or officer 
than that fixed at any time by the board of supervisors. 2 —(§1877.) 

(105.) Sec. 8. The relief hereby authorized to be afforded shall Relief inde- 
be and remain separate from, and independent of, the relief, SSnSSipoor* 4 
temporary or otherwise, afforded to poor persons under existing persons. 
laws. 2 —(§1878.) 

(106.) Sec. 9. This act shall be construed to authorize the relief ^sons entitled 
of the families of all volunteer non-commissioned officers, musi- oreie ‘ 
cians, and privates, enlisted from this State, and actually mustered 
into the military or naval service of the United States. 2 — (1879.) 

(107.) Sec. 10. The common council of the city of Detroit common council 
shall appoint, on the recommendation of the mayor of said city, sonToTfford per ' 
some suitable person, whose duty it shall be to afford such tempo- temporary relief, 
rary relief as may be necessary for the support of such families as 
shall be entitled to relief under and by virtue of this act, or the act 
to which this is amendatory, in said city, not exceeding the sum 
of fifteen dollars per month, and not exceeding to any family or 
person the actual sum necessary, with his, her or their other 
means of support, to relieve such family or person ; and said person 
so appointed shall discharge all the duties of all the aldermen of 
said city enjoined by this act, or the act to which this is amenda¬ 
tory, and in accordance with the rules specified therein ; and such 
person may give orders upon the county treasurer of his county, 
payable only to the person, or order, who is for the time being the 


i As amended by Act 173, Laws of 1863, p. 317, approved March 20, 1863. 

•2 As amended by Act 14, Laws of 1862, p. 14, approved January 17, 1862. 





26 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Compensation 

of. 


Term of office. 


Bonds. 


Additional 

bonds. 


Proviso. 


head of the family to whom relief is afforded. Such person so 
appointed shall be entitled to such compensation for his services 
as shall be determined by the supervisors of bis county, to ^be 
audited, allowed and paid as other accounts against said county. — 
(81880 ) 

(108 ) Sec. 11. The person so appointed shall bold bis office for 
one year, and the term of bis office shall expire and commence on 
the first Tuesday of May in each year. Before entering upon the 
duties of bis office, such person shall execute a bond with good and 
sufficient sureties, to be approved by the common council, as lequiied 
by section twenty-eight, chapter two, of the revised chartei of the 
city of Detroit; and the common council shall from time to time 
require such additional bonds and sureties as they may deem propel, 
and any failure to make and execute such bonds shall vacate said 
office. 1 2 —(§1881.) 


Joint Kesolution relative to the relief of the families of volunteers mustered from 
this State into the military or naval service of the United States or of this State, 
and declaratory of the meaning of act number one hundred and seventy-three of 
the Session Laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-three, passed for that purpose. 

Laws of 1864, p. 142. Approved February 5, 1864. 

(109.) Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the State of Michigan, That act number one hundred and seventy- 
three of the Session Laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-three, 
entitled “An act to amend an act to amend an act entitled ‘An 
act to provide for the relief, by counties, of the families of volun¬ 
teers mustered from this State into the military service of the 
United States or of this State/ approved May fourth, eighteen 
hundred and sixty-one, and to add certain sections thereto,” 
approved January seventeenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, 
was intended and is hereby declared to make it the duty of the 
board of supervisors of each organized county to make adequate 
provision for all requisite relief and support of the families within 
this State, of non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, 
enlisted or drafted from their counties, respectively, or substitutes 
for persons so drafted and mustered into the military or naval ser¬ 
vice of the United States or of this State, whether such families 
reside within the county.where such enlistment was made and to 
which such soldier is credited, or not; but said act w T as not intended 
and shall not be construed to require or authorize the board of 
supervisors of any county, or any member thereof, to apply any 
part of the family relief fund of such county, or furnish relief to 
the family of any soldier credited by the military authorities to 
any other county or sub-district, or who belongs to any regiment 
or battery from any other State; and it shall be the duty of the 
supervisor of each township to furnish relief to the families of 
volunteers who are credited to such township: Provided, The 
families resided in this State at the time of the enlistment of the 

1 As added by Act 161 of the Laws of 1863, p. 295, approved and took effect March 
19, 1863. 

2 As added by Act 184 of the Laws of 1865, p. 315, approved and took effect March 
15, 1865. 






SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


2? 


volunteer, and are in circumstances entitling them to relief under 
the provisions of the act aforesaid.—(§1882.) 


IX. Soldiers’ Aid Fund. 


An Act to create a soldiers’ aid fund for disabled Michigan soldiers, sailors, and ma¬ 
rines, and Michigan men who have served in the late war in other State organiza¬ 
tions, or in the forces of the United States, and to repeal act number thirty-one, 
Session Latvs of eighteen hundred and sixty-three, entitled “An act for the relief of 
sick, disabled, and needy soldiers, approved February eighteenth, eighteen hundred 
dred and sixty-three;” also, act number thirty-six, Session Laws of eighteen hun- 
and sixty-seven, being an act to provide a temporary home for disabled Michigan 
soldiers, approved March eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven; also, act num¬ 
ber one hundred and fourteen of Session Laws of eighteen hundred and sixty- 
seveu, entitled “An act to provide a soldiers’ permanent home commission, and to 
define its duties,” approved March twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty- 
seven; also, act number two hundred and twenty-eight of Session Laws of eight¬ 
een hundred and sixty-five, being an act making an appropriation for the soldiers’ 
relief fund. 


Laws of 1869, p. 52, approved March 16,1S69. 

(110.) Section 1. That an amount not exceeding five thousand Appropriation., 
dollars per annum be and the same is hereby appropriated from the 
military fund, to be set apart and denominated the “Soldiers’ Aid Name and pur. 
Fund,” for the support and care of infirm, maimed, and needy Mich- P° se of fuud - 
igan soldiers, sailors, and marines, and Michigan men who enlisted 
from this State in other State volunteer forces, or the United States 
service, and were residents of this State at the time when said service 
was rendered; said assistance to be rendered at the Harper Hospital, where assistance 
in the city of Detroit and elsewhere, and to otherwise aid them; t0 be renderod * 
and also to assist, temporarily, destitute discharged soldiers, sailors, Soldiers of other 
and marines of other States, in the discretion of the State Military temporarily^ 
Board. 1 —(§960.) added. 

(111.) Sec. 2. The State Military Board is hereby authorized to Authority of 
make the necessary contracts and arrangements for the mainte- | t <Srd? Illltary 
nance, care, and support of Michigan soldiers and Michigan men, 
as specified in section one, at said Harper Hospital, or to grant 
them aid at their homes to an amount not exceeding contract 
rates for their maintenance at said Harper Hospital, of which they 
must previously have been inmates to entitle 'them to this aid out¬ 
side of said hospital.—(§961.) 

(112.) Sec. 3. Said board may also appoint a superintendent, Boardmayap- 
assistant or assistants, and revoke such appointments at pleasure, tendent, P makk 
and make rules and regulations for the admission, government, rules » etc * 
and dismissal of the beneficiaries herein provided for, and do all 
other acts and things necessary to carry out the objects of this 
act.—(§962.) 


i As amended by Act No. 70, Laws of 1871, p. S9, and Act No. 115, Laws of 1873, p. 152. 








28 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Admission to 
hospital. 


Proviso. 


'When person acl- 
ijnitted to make 
Adjutant Gener¬ 
al his attorney. 


{How money dis¬ 
bursed. 


Board to keep 
records and re¬ 
port. 


Acts repealed. 


(113.) Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Adjutant General of 
this State to issue his order of admission to the soldier’s home, at 
the Harper Hospital, as contemplated in section two of this act, or 
the State Military Board are hereby empowered to grant the same 
pro rata aid, in conformity with section two: Provided, however, 
That said soldier, sailor, or marine was in service during the late 
war for the suppression of the rebellion ; was honorably discharged; 
and at the time of making such application, is sick, infirm, maimed, 
or otherwise unable to maintain himself, and under such other 
conditions as may be prescribed by said Military Board.—(§963.) 

(114.) Sec. 5. Any person entitled to such order of admission, 
who is receiving, or is entitled to receive, a pension from the gov¬ 
ernment of the United States, shall receive such order only on 
condition that he shall first constitute and appoint the Adjutant 
General his attorney during his stay at said home, to collect or 
procure such pension; and when such pension shall be collected 
by said Adjutant General, the same shall be paid over by him as 
follows: Two dollars to the person executing power of attorney, 
on the first Monday of each month, the remainder to his family; 
and in case he has no family, then to the State Military Board, to 
be used by them in defraying the expenses of said home.—(§964.) 

(115.) Sec. 6. All disbursements of money for the objects sought 
by this act shall be under the direction of the State Military Board ; 
and upon the requisition of said Board, the Auditor General shall 
draw his warrant or warrants for such sum or sums, not exceeding 
in all the appropriation hereby made, on the State Treasurer, who 
is hereby authorized to pay and charge the same to the soldier’s 
aid fund. Said board shall keep a record of all their transactions 
in connection with said home and fund, and make annually, on 
the first day of December, a report to the Governor, of all moneys 
received and disbursed by them, together with such other facts and 
recommendations as said board may deem proper.—(§965.) 

(116.) Sec. 7. The following acts are hereby repealed, viz: act 
number thirty-one, session laws of eighteen hundred and sixty- 
three, being “An act for the relief of sick, disabled, and needy 
soldiers,,” approved February eighteenth, eighteen hundred and 
sixty-three; act number thirty-six, session laws of eighteen hun¬ 
dred and sixty-seven, being “An act to provide a temporary home 
for disabled Michigan soldiers,” approved March eighth, eighteen 
hundred and sixty-seven; act number one hundred and fourteen, 
session laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, being “An act 
to provide a soldiers’ •permanent home commission, and to define 
its duties,” approved March twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and 
sixty-seven; act number two hundred and twenty-eight, session 
laws of eighteen hundred and sixty-five, being “An act making 
appropriations for the soldiers’ relief fund,” approved March, 
^eighteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-five.—(§966.) 





SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


29 


X. Education of the Deaf and Dumb and 
the Blind. 


From act making appropriations in aid of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and 

Blind, at Flint, i 

Laws of 1857, p. 216. Approved February 12, 1857. Took effect May 19, 1857. 

(117.) Section 6. In cases where persons, residents of this State, 
who are deaf and dumb, or blind, but who, on account of their 
poverty, are unable to furnish themselves with suitable clothing 
and other necessary expenses for attending school at the Asylum 
for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, the board of trustees shall 
have discretionary power to render them such assistance, not exceed¬ 
ing forty dollars per annum for each person, and for that purpose 
may issue a certificate, directed to the Auditor General, that such 
amount is necessary for the benefit of such individuals, who shall 
draw his warrant upon the State Treasurer therefor; and any such 
sums are hereby appropriated and shall be paid out of any moneys 
in the general fund not otherwise appropriated, and the Auditor 
General shall charge all such moneys as drawn, to the county of 
which such person is a resident, or to which he or she belongs, to 
be collected and returned to the general fund as any State taxes are 
required to be by law.—(§1909.) 


An Act to provide for the education of certain poor persons in the “Michigan Insti¬ 
tution for educating the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind.” 

Laws of 1873, p. 148, approved April 17, 1873. 

(118.) Section 1 . The People of the State of Michigan enact , 
That the superintendents of the poor in each of the counties of this 
State in which there are, or shall be hereafter, any person or per¬ 
sons between the ages of ten years and twenty years, who shall 
possess a good natural intellect and a good moral character, and 
shall have no contagious disease, who shall be deaf and dumb, or 
blind, or partially deaf and dumb, or blind, and who shall be or 
shall become chargeable to said county, or to any township therein, 
shall cause any and all such persons to be taken to the “ Michigan 
Institution for the education of the Deaf and Dumb, and the 
Blind,” at the city of Flint, to be there educated as pupils in said 
Institution, in accordance with the rules and regulations thereof. 

(119.) Sec. 2. Such superintendents of the poor shall, in every 
case, before taking or sending any person to said Institution, as 
provided in section one of this act, see that such person is in a 
state of perfect bodily cleanliness, and comfortably and decently 
clothed and provided with suitable changes of raiment; and they 
shall thereafter during the years that such person shall continue a 
pupil in said Institution, furnish him or her with such clothing 
and other articles of necessity and convenience as are, or may be 

iName changed to “The Michigan Institution for Educating the Deaf and Dumb 
and the Blind,” See Compiled Laws of 1871, Sec. 1958. 


Assistance to be 
furnished in cer. 
tain cases. 


How paid. 


Amount paid 
charged to coun¬ 
ties. 


Duty of superin 
tendents of the 
poor. 


Provision rela¬ 
tive to clothing, 
etc. 






30 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


by the rules and regulations of said Institution, required to be fur¬ 
nished for pupils therein; and shall provide for the payment of the 
necessary traveling and other expenses of such person in going to 
and from said Institution, and while remaining there; and if they 
shall allow such person to remain at said Institution during the 
yearly vacation, they shall pay for his board during such vacation. 
Expenses, how (120.) Sec. 3. The expenses incurred by the superintendents of 
paid - the poor of any county in carrying out the provisions of this act, 

shall be paid as other necessary expenses incurred by them in 
the discharge of their official duties are by law required to be 
paid. 

Distribution of (121.) Sec. 4. The Secretary of State shall as soon as practica- 
copies of this a ft e r the passage of this act, transmit four copies thereof to 

each of the county clerks of this State, each of whom shall file 
and preserve one of said copies in his office, and shall, immediately 
after the receipt thereof, deliver one of said copies to each of the 
superintendents of the poor of his county. 

Penalty for non- (122.) Sec. 5. If any of the officers herein named shall refuse 

performance of or ne g] e ct to perform any of the duties required of him by this 
act, he shall, for every such neglect or refusal, be deemed guilty of 
a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined a sum not 
exceeding one hundred dollars. 


XI. Care and Support op Insane Persons. 


From act to provide for the organization, regulation, and management of the Asy¬ 
lums for the Insane, and effectually to provide for the care, maintenance, and 
recovery of the Insane. 


Laws of 1877, p. 215. Approved May 22, 1877. 


Asylums, how 
known. 


Separate boards. 


Eastern Michi¬ 
gan Asylum 
district. 


Michigan Asy¬ 
lum district. 

Trustees may 
establish by-laws 
and rules. 


(123.) Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact , 
That the asylum for the insane located at Pontiac shall be known 
as the Eastern Michigan Asylum, and the asylum located at Kala¬ 
mazoo shall continue to be known as the Michigan Asylum for the 
Insane. The said asylums shall each be placed under the charge 
of a separate board of trustees. 

(124.) Sec. 2. The district of the Eastern Michigan Asylum 
shall be composed of all counties lying east of the meridian line, or 
traversed by that line, excepting the counties of Jackson, Macki¬ 
naw, and Chippewa. The district of the Michigan Asylum for the 
Insane shall be composed of the remaining part of the State. 

(125.) Sec. 13. The trustees are hereby directed and empowered 
to establish such by-laws as they may deem necessary and expedient 
for regulating the appointment and duties of officers, attendants, 
and assistants, for fixing the conditions of admissions, support, and 
discharge of patients, and for conducting in a proper manner the 








SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


31 


business of the institution; also to ordain and enforce a suitable 
system of rules and regulations for the internal government, disci¬ 
pline, and management of the asylums. 

(126.) Sec. 20. The treasurer of the asylum shall be vested with 
the same powers, rights, and authority which are now by law given 
to superintendents of the poor in any county or town of the State, 
so far as may be necessary for the indemnity or benefit of the asy¬ 
lum, and for determining the settlement of any insane person that 
may be sent to the asylum by an order of a judge of probate, and 
also for the purpose of compelling a relative or committee to defray 
the expense of an insane person’s support in the asylum, and reim¬ 
burse actual disbursements for his necessary clothing and traveling 
expenses, according to the by-laws of the institution; also for 
coercing the payment of similar charges when due, according to said 
by-laws, from any town, city or county that is liable for the support 
of any insane person in said asylum. Said treasurer is also author¬ 
ized to recover, for the use of the asylum, any and all sums which 
may be due upon any note or bond in his hands belonging to the 
asylum; also any and all sums which may be charged and due, 
according to the by-laws of the asylum; also any and all sums 
which may be charged and due, according to the by-laws of the asy¬ 
lum, for the support of any patient therein, or for actual disburse¬ 
ments made in his behalf, or for necessary clothing and traveling 
expenses, in an action to be brought in said treasurer’s name as 
treasurer of the asylum, and which shall not abate by his death or 
removal, against the individual, town, city, or county legally liable 
for the maintenance of said patient, and having neglected to pay 
the same when demanded by the treasurer; in which action the 
declaration may be in a general indeUtatus assumjjsit , and judg¬ 
ment shall be rendered for such sum as shall be found due, with 
interest from the time of demand made as aforesaid. Said treasu¬ 
rer may also, upon the receipt of the money due upon any mortgage 
in his hands belonging to tho asylum, execute or release and ac¬ 
knowledge full satisfaction thereof, so that the same may be dis¬ 
charged of record. 

(127.) Sec. 21. The steward, under the direction of the medical 
superintendent, shall make all the purchases for the asylum, and 
preserve the original bills and receipts thereof, and keep full and 
accurate accounts of the same, and copies of all orders drawn by 
himself upon the treasurer. He shall also, under like direction, 
make contracts in the superintendent’s name with the attend¬ 
ants and assistants, and keep and settle their accounts. He shall 
also keep the accounts of the support of patients, and expenses 
incurred in their behalf, and furnish the treasurer every month 
with copies of such as fall due. He shall also be accountable for 
the careful keeping and economical use of all furniture, stores, and 
other articles provided for the asylum. 

(128.) Sec. 22. As soon as the Eastern Michigan Asylum shall 
be ready for the admission of patients, the board of trustees shall 
cause notice thereof to be published for two weeks in some paper 
of the State, and four copies sent to the clerk of every county, who 


Vested with pow¬ 
ers of superin¬ 
tendents of poor. 


Other powers. 


Steward, powers 
and duties. 


Notice when 
Eastern Asylum 
ready for admis¬ 
sion of patients. 




32 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


County superin¬ 
tendents and su¬ 
pervisors to send 
insane persons 
to asylum. 


Confinement of 
insane persons, 
etc. 


Penalty for con¬ 
fining insane 
person contrary 
to law. 


How persons in 
indigent circum¬ 
stances may be 
sent to asylums. 


shall transmit copies thereof to the superintendents of the poor of 
said county by mail. A circular from the medical superintendent 
shall accompany said notice to each county clerk, and to the 
superintendents of the poor. 

(129.) Sec. 23. The county superintendents of the poor of any 
county, or any supervisor of any city or town to which a person 
who shall become insane may be chargeable, shall send such person 
to the asylum by an order under their hands: Provided, The 
question of insanity shall not be decided by said superintendents or 
supervisor: [ And\ provided further , That the asylum can receive 
said person. 

(130.) Sec. 24. No insane person, or person disordered in his 
senses, shall be confined in the same room with any person charged 
with or convicted of crime; nor shall such person be confined in 
any jail more than ten days. 

(131.) Sec. 25. Any director of the poor, constable, or keeper 
of a jail, or other person, who shall confine any such insane person 
in any other manner or in any other place than such as are herein 
prescribed, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con¬ 
viction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and 
fifty dollars, or to imprisonment not exceeding one year, or to 
both, in the discretion of the court before whom [which] the con¬ 
viction shall be had. 

(132.) Sec. 26. When a person in indigent circumstances, and 
not a pauper, becomes insane, application may be made in his be¬ 
half to the probate judge of the county where he resides; and said 
probate judge shall call two respectable physicians, and other credi¬ 
ble witnesses, and also immediately notify the prosecuting attorney 
of his county, and the supervisor of the township or ward in which 
such insane person resides, of the time and place of meeting, whose 
duty it shall be to attend the examination and act in behalf of said 
county; and said probate judge shall fully investigate the facts in 
the case, and either with or without the verdict of a jury, at his 
discretion, as to question of insanity, shall decide the case as to his 
indigence, but the decision as to indigence shall not be conclusive 
in such county; and if the probate judge certifies that satisfactory 
proof has been adduced, showing him insane, and his estate is 
insufficient to support him and his family, or if he has no family, 
himself, under the visitation of insanity, on his certificate under 
the seal of the probate court of said county, he shall be admit¬ 
ted into the Asylum, and supported there at the expense of the 
county to which he belongs, until he shall be restored to soundness 
of mind, if effected in two years, and until otherwise ordered. The 
judge of probate in such case shall have power to compel the 
attendance of witnesses and jurors, and shall file the certificates of 
the physicians, taken under oath, and other papers, in his office, 
and enter the proper order in his [the] journal of the probate court 
in his office. The judge of probate shall report the result of his pro¬ 
ceedings to the supervisors of his county, if such person belongs to 
that county, whose duty it shall be, at the next annual meeting 
thereafter, to raise money requisite to meet the expenses of support 
accordingly. 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


33 


(133.) Sec. 27. County and town officers and all persons having Duty of officers, 
charge of insane persons as above, shall see to carrying into effect 
so much of this act as refers to the removal to and maintenance in 
the Asylum, of said insane persons, within such time and under 
such regulations as shall be provided by [the] by-laws. 

(134.) Sec. 28. The medical superintendent shall make, in a Minute of date 
book kept for that purpose, at the time of reception, a minute with nlmeTetc^to be 
date of same, the name, residence, office, and occupation of the tended. 8uperin ' 
person by whom, and by whose authority each insane person is 
brought to the Asylum ; and have all the orders, warrants, requests, 
certificates, and other papers accompanying him forthwith filed. 

(135.) Sec. 29. When an insane person in indigent circumstances Expenses of per. 
shall have been sent to the Asylum by his friends, who have paid circumstances^ 
his bills therein for three months, if the superintendent shall cer- P aid by county 
tity he is a fit patient, the supervisors of the county of his residence 
are authorized and required, upon an application under oath in his 
behalf, to defray the expenses of his remaining there until otherwise 
ordered. 

(136.) Sec. 30. When a person shall have escaped indictment, when person is 
or shall have been acquitted of a criminal charge, upon trial, on SSnaTcharge 
the ground of insanity, the court, being certified by the jury or 
otherwise of the fact, shall carefully inquire and ascertain whether 
his insanity in any degree continues, and if it does, shall order him 
in safe custody, and to be sent to the Asylum. If such person 
be sent to the Asylum, the county from which he is sent shall defray 
all his expenses while there, and of sending him back if returned; 
but the county may recover the amount so paid from his estate, if 
he have any, or from any relative, town, city, or county that would 
have been bound to provide for and maintain him elsewhere. 

(137.) Sec. 31. If any person in confinement under indictment, when person 
or under sentence of imprisonment, or under criminal charge, or 
for want of bail for good behavior or keeping the peace, or to ap- etc., appears to * 
pear as a witness, or in consequence ot any summary conviction, or 
by order of any justice, or under any other than civil process, shall 
appear to be insane, the circuit court commissioner of the county 
where he is confined, or, if he be absent, the judge of the circuit 
court shall, upon the application of the prosecuting attorney, insti¬ 
tute a careful investigation, call two respectable physicians and 
other creditable witnesses, whom he is authorized to swear as such; 
and if it be satisfactorily proved that he is insane, said commis¬ 
sioner or judge may relieve him from such imprisonment, and order 
his safe custody and removal to the asylum, where [he] shall remain 
until he is restored to his right mind, and then the superintendent 
shall inform the said commissioner or judge, and the county clerk 
and prosecuting attorney of said county, so that the person so con¬ 
fined may, within sixty days thereafter, be remanded to prison and 
criminal proceedings be resumed or otherwise discharged, or, if the 
time of his sentence shall have expired, he shall be discharged. 

The provisions of the last preceding section, requiring the county 
to defray the expenses of a patient sent to the Asylum, shall be 




34 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


When person 
imprisoned on 
civil process, 
etc., becomes 
insane. 


Persons charged 
with misdemean¬ 
ors and acquit¬ 
ted. 

Weekly charges 
for patients. 


Quarterly state, 
ment to Secre¬ 
tary of State of 
persons to be 
maintained by 
State. 


Bills rendered 
quarterly to 
Auditor General. 


Payment by 
State Treasurer. 


Insane persons 
personally liable 
for their support. 


Relatives, city, 
etc., liable. 


Payment for 
support by coun¬ 
ties. 


equally applicable to similar expenses arising under this section and 
the one next following. 

(138.) Sec. 32. If a person imprisoned on attachment, or any 
civil process, or for the non-payment of a militia fine, becomes in¬ 
sane, the commissioner in the last preceding section of this act, shall 
institute like proceedings in his case as required in the case provided 
for in said section; but notices shall be given in such case, by mail 
or otherwise, to the plaintiff or his attorney, if in the State; and 
if it shall be proved to the satisfaction of such commissioner that 
the prisoner is insane, he may discharge him from imprisonment, 
and order him into safe custody, and to be sent to the Asylum; 
nevertheless, the creditor may renew his process, and arrest again 
his debtor when of sound mind. 

(139.) Sec. 33. Persons charged with misdemeanors, and acquit¬ 
ted on the ground of insanity, may be kept in custody, and sent 
to the Asylum in the same way as persons charged with crime. 

(140.) Sec. 34. The rate of charge per week to be paid for the 
board and necessary treatment of all patients of the Asylums, who 
are residents of this State, shall be annually fixed by the trustees 
of the Asylums, and shall not exceed the actual cost of support 
and attendance, exclusive of officers’ salaries; but this provision 
shall not be construed so as to prevent the furnishing extra care and 
attendance to patients by special contracts with parties chargeable 
therefor. On the first day of January, in the year eighteen hun¬ 
dred and seventy-nine, and at the close of each succeeding quarter, 
the medical superintendents of the Asylums, shall certify to' the 
Secretary of State, the name, age, and residence of all patients 
under treatment, the expense of whose maintenance shall have 
been exclusively paid by any county for two years continuously, and 
such patients shall thereafter be maintained by the State. The 
bills for the maintenance, clothing and other charges of such 
patients, shall be rendered quarterly to the Auditor General in the 
same manner as bills are rendered to county treasurers for the sup¬ 
port of patients at county charge, and shall be paid by the State 
Treasurer to the treasurers of the Asylums in which the patients 
may be, on the warrant of the Auditor General, out of any moneys 
belonging to the general fund. 

(141.) Sec. 35. Every insane person supported in the Asylum, 
except those provided for in section thirty-four, shall be personally 
liable for his maintenance therein, and for all necessary expenses 
incurred by the institution in his behalf; and the committee, rela¬ 
tives, city, town, or county that would have been bound by law to 
provide for and support him, if he had not been sent to the Asy¬ 
lum, shall be liable to pay the expenses of his clothing and mainte¬ 
nance in the Asylum, and actual necessary expenses to and from 
the same. 

(142.) Sec. 36. The expenses of . clothing and maintaining in 
the Asylums a patient who has been received upon the order of any 
court or officer, shall be paid by the county from which he was sent 
to the Asylum, except those provided for in section thirtv-four. 
The treasurer of said county is authorized and directed to "pay to 





SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


35 


the treasurer of the Asylum the bills for such clothing and main¬ 
tenance, as they shall become clue and payable according to the 
by-laws of the Asylum, upon the order of the steward; and the 
supervisors of said county shall annually levy and raise the amount 
of such bills, and such further sum as will probably cover all sim¬ 
ilar bills for one year in advance. Said county, however, shall 
have the right to require any individual, town, or city that is legally 
liable for the support of such patient, to reimburse the amount of 
said bills with interest from the day of paying the same. 

(143.) Sec. 37. Whenever the trustees shall order a patient Payment of ex. 
moved from the Asylum to the county whence he came, the super- vaffromLyium" 
intendents of the poor of said county shall audit and pay the actual back t0 counties, 
and, reasonable expenses of such removal out of the county poor 
fund. But if any town or person be legally liable for the support 
of such patient, the amount of such expenses may be recovered for 
the use of the county, by such superintendents. If said superin¬ 
tendents of the poor neglect or refuse to pay such expenses on 
demand, the treasurer of the Asylum may pay the same and charge 
the amount to the said county, and the treasurer of the said county 
is authorized to pay the same, with interest after thirty days; and 
the supervisors of said county shall levy and raise the amount as 
other county charges. 

(144.) Sec. 38. Every tow T n or county paying for the support of Right of coun. 
an insane person in the Asylum, or for his expenses in going to or SWer'forsup. 
from the same, shall have the like rights and remedies to recover portofinsaQe * 
the amount of such payments, with interest from the time of paying 
each bill, as if such expenses had been incurred for the support of 
the same at other places under existing laws. 

(145.) Sec. 39. A patient of the criminal class may be discharged who may dis- 
by order of one of the justices of the Supreme Court or a circuit of a r fri£inai nt3 
judge if, upon due investigation, it shall appear safe, legal, and class - 
right to make such order. 

(140.) Sec. 40. No patient shall be discharged without suitable Patients not to 
clothing; and if it cannot otherwise be obtained the steward shall, without suitable 
upon the order of the trustees, furnish it; also money not exceed- clothln s» etc - 
ing twenty dollars, to defray his expenses until he reaches his 
friends, or can find an opportunity to earn his subsistence. 

(147.) Sec. 41. All town and county officers sending a patient to Duty of county 
the Asylum shall, before sending him, see that he is in a state of to condition of 
perfect bodily cleanliness, and is comfortably clothed and provided J s a yiums. sent t0 
with suitable changes of raiment as prescribed in the by-laws; and 
shall provide a female attendant to every female patient, unless 
accompanied by her husband, father, brother, or son. 

(148.) Sec. 42. Whenever an indigent insane person has been Expenses for 
sent to the Asylum by a probate judge as having gained a legal set- 3K e in. 
tlement in some county of this State other than that in which such 
judge resides, the treasurer of the Asylum shall, within ten days 
after such person has been admitted, give notice to the superin¬ 
tendents of the poor of the county to which it is alleged that such 
indigent insane person belongs of the facts in the case, and that 
the expenses of the support of such person will be charged to that 




36 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Appeal. 


Provision for 
payment of ex¬ 
penses when 
counties neglect 
or refuse to pay. 

Notice to county 
clerk. 


Payment by 
State Treasurer. 


Charged back to 
county. 


Compensation of 
trustees. 


Superintendents 
of the poor, etc., 
to report to Sec¬ 
retary of Board 
of State Chari¬ 
ties. 


county, unless such superintendents shall, within such time as the 
treasurer may appoint, not less than twenty days nor more than 
thirty days thereafter, show that such county ought not to be so 
charged; and on application, said treasurer shall examine the mat¬ 
ter, and hear all the testimony in relation thereto, and shall decide 
the question, which decision shall be final, unless an appeal shall 
be taken from such decision within sixty days to the circuit court 
by the county so charged by such treasurer with such support, and 
said court shall have full power to hear, try, and determine the- 
matter. The prosecuting attorney of the proper county, on demand 
of the superintendents of the poor, is hereby authorized to take the- 
appeal. 

(149.) Sec. 43. In case any county in this State shall neglect or 
refuse to pay the amount due the Asylum for the treatment and 
maintenance of persons admitted from such county, in accordance 
with the provisions of this act, it shall be the duty of the medical 
superintendent to make out a statement of the facts, giving the 
number of persons, name of each, and number of weeks’ treatment 
and maintenance for which payment is due, and the amount of the 
same to be verified upon his oath, a copy of which he shall send to 
the clerk of the county from which such money is due: and if the 
same shall not be paid within sixty days after giving such notice to 
the said county clerk, he shall transmit the statement to the Audi¬ 
tor General, who shall draw his warrant upon the State Treasurer 
for the amount, together with the interest thereon, to be computed 
from the time the same became due the Asylum, and charge the 
same back to the said county, to be assessed, collected, and returned 
with and in the same mauner that other State taxes are assessed, 
collected, and returned. 

(150.) Sec. 44. The trustees of the Asylum shall receive no* 
compensation for their services, but shall receive their actual and 
reasonable traveling expenses, to be paid by the State Treasurer on 
the warrant of the Auditor General, on the rendering of their 
accounts, verified by their oaths, respectively, out of any money to- 
the credit of the general fund not otherwise appropriated. 

(151.) Sec. 45. The superintendents of the poor of each county 
in the State shall transmit to the Secretary of the Board of State 
Charities on the first day of July, in the year eighteen hundred and 
seventy-seven, the name and age of each insane person in the poor- 
house of the county or elsewhere, receiving county aid in any form. 
Every county, city, or town officer, to whom application for aid in 
behalf of any insane person shall be made after the date before 
mentioned, shall at once report the name and age of such insane 
person to the Secretary of the Board of State Charities. The 
medical superintendent of the asylum shall report quarterly to the 
Secretary of the Board of State Charities the name and age of all 
patients supported at State or county charge. After the date 
above mentioned all the officers named in this section shall report 
to the Secretary of the Board of State Charities the date and cir¬ 
cumstances attending the discharge, removal, elopement, or death 
of all insane persons receiving aid or supported at county or State 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


37 


charge. The Board of State Charities shall provide for the careful 
registry by their secretary of all facts communicated in compliance 
with the requirements of this section. 

(152.) Sec. 46. When an indigent insane person shall be brought Judge of probate' 
before a judge of probate for examination, as provided in section SgKttiemSt 
twenty-six'of this act, such judge shall also inquire into the settle- ^ a n n d e igent 
ment of such person, and if it shall appear that such person is in 
indigent circumstances, and has not sufficient means for his sup¬ 
port, and has not a legal settlement in the county of such judge, 
but has gained a legal settlement in some other county of this 
State according to the provisions of sections eighteen hundred and 
forty-eight and eighteen hundred and forty-nine of the compiled 
laws, said judge shall make two statements of his proceedings and statementsreia- 
decision, and shall certify to the correctness thereof, under the seal tlvetheret0 - 
of the probate court, and transmit one copy, with the other pro¬ 
ceedings, to the treasurer of the asylum, who shall preserve the 
same in his office; which statement shall be admitted as prima 
facie evidence of the matter therein stated in any hearing that may 
be had before said treasurer in relation thereto, and shall file the 
other copy with the county clerk of his county. The probate 
judge shall have the same powers in determining the settlement of 
an indigent insane person as is conferred upon him in section 
twenty-six of this act. If, on the examination herein provided for. When insane 
it shall satisfactorily appear that said insane person has not acquired acqSredaTegai 
a legal settlement in any county in this State, the judge of probate any'county! 11 
shall forward a certified copy of all the testimony in the case to the 
Secretary of State. The bills for the maintenance of such insane payment of wiia. 
person shall be rendered quarterly to the Auditor General, at the 
same time and in the same manner as bills are rendered to county 
treasurers, and shall be paid to the treasurer of the asylum to 
which the insane person may be sent, by the State Treasurer, on 
the warrant of the Auditor General, out of any moneys belonging 
to the general fund. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State secretary of 
to ascertain, if possible, through the testimony filed or otherwise, ^^sidenceif 
the actual residence of such insane person, return him thereto, possible, etc. 
and request reimbursement for all expenses incurred by the State; 
the expenses attending such return to be be settled by the Board of 
State Auditors. 

(153.) Sec. 47. It shall be the duty of the board [boards] of joint meetings of 
trustees to meet jointly once or more every year at each asylum, to boarduftrustees - 
adjust all questions that may arise pertaining to said institutions, 
and the said joint board acting under such rules and by-laws as 
they may adopt, by and with the advice and consent of the medical Transfer of 
superintendents, may transfer patients from the Michigan Asylum ^yium to°the° ne 
for the Insane to the Eastern Michigan Asylum, and from the otber - 
Eastern Michigan Asylum to the Michigan Asylum for the Insane, 
if for any cause it may become necessary or desirable. 

(154.) Sec. 48. The terms “insane or insane person,” as used certain terms 
in this act, include every species of insanity, and extend to every whatToIncSde. 
deranged person, and to all of unsound mind, other than idiots; 
and the word oath includes “affirmation;” “institution” may 




38 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


When Eastern 
Asylum shall be 
opened no insane 
to be confined in 
almshouse. 


When require- 
ments to send 
insane to Eastern 
Asylum to take 
effect 


Acts repealed. 


Notice to be 
given before 
insane convicts 
are discharged. 


Probate judge to 
issue warrant to 
sheriff. 


Duty of sheriff 
on receipt of 
warrant. 


Proceedings 
before judge of 
probate. 


When to be ad¬ 
mitted to Asy¬ 
lum at expense 
of State. 


mean either the Michigan Asylum or the Eastern Michigan Asy¬ 
lum, and “institutions” mean both of the said asylums. A word 
denoting the singular number is to include one or many ; and 
every word importing the masculine gender may extend to and 
include females. Every provision of this act applies equally to the 
Michigan Asylum for the Insane and the Eastern Michigan Asy¬ 
lum, excepting where one or the other are especially designated. 

(155.) Sec. 49. After the Eastern Michigan Asylum shall have 
been opened for patients, and room shall be sufficient for all the 
insane wards of the State, then and thereafter it shall be illegal for 
county superintendents of the poor, or for any other authority 
whatever, to consign to the county almshouses any insane person. 

(156.) Sec. 50. The requirements for sending the insane to the' 
Eastern Michigan Asylum, shall take effect as soon as the trustees’ 
notice of the Asylum being ready as aforesaid, shall have been 
published for two weeks, as provided in this act. 

(157.) Sec. 51. All acts and parts of acts contravening the pro¬ 
visions of this act are hereby repealed. 


An Act relative to the care of persons insane at the expiration of their term of sen¬ 
tence at any of the penal institutions of this State, or the Detroit House of 
Correction. 

Laws of 1877, p. 168. Approved May 22, 1877. 

(158.) Section 1 . The People of the State of Michigan enact, 
That before discharging any convict at the time of the expiration 
of his sentence from any of the penal institutions of this State who 
may be deemed insane, and so certified by the physician in charge 
of any such institution, if no relative or friend of [any] such convict, 
appears and takes charge of him, the warden or other superintend¬ 
ing officer shall first give notice in writing to the county clerk of 
the county from which such convict was sent, and to one or more 
of the relatives or friends of such convict, if known, and also to 
the probate judge of the county in which such penal institution is 
located of the fact of his condition; and on the receipt of such 
written notice said judge shall, within twenty days, issue his warrant 
to the sheriff of such county, commanding him 1;o receive such con¬ 
vict at the time of his discharge at the said institution, and bring 
him before such judge. 

(159.) Sec. 2. Upon the receipt of such warrant it shall be the 
duty of said sheriff to whom it is directed to execute the same 
forthwith, and return the same to the probate judge by whom it 
was issued. 

(160.) Sec. 3. On such discharged convict being brought before 
the judge of probate aforesaid, such judge shall call two respecta¬ 
ble physicians, and other credible witnesses, and also immediately 
notify the prosecuting attorney of his county of the time and place 
of meeting, whose duty it shall be to attend the examination and 
act in behalf of the State; and said probate judge shall fully inves¬ 
tigate the facts in the case, either with or without a jury, as to the 
question of insanity, and if the probate judge certifies that satisfac¬ 
tory proof has been adduced showing him insane, and no relative 





SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


39 


[relation] or friend of such discharged convict has, in the mean¬ 
time, appeared and offered to take charge of him, on the certificate 
of such judge, under the seal of the probate court of said county, 
he shall be admitted into one of the asylums for the insane in this 
State, and supported there at the expense of the State until he shall 
be restored to soundness of mind, or until removed by due process 
of law, or taken charge of by his relatives or friends. The probate 
judge, in such examination, shall have power to compel the attend¬ 
ance of witnesses and jurors, and shall file the certificates of the 
physicians, taken under oath, and other papers, and enter the 
proper order in the journal of the probate court in his office. Said Judge to report 
probate judge shall report the result of his proceedings to the Board Auditors. 0 * e 
of State Auditors, whose duty it shall be to audit and allow the Expense of pro- 
expenses of such proceedings [proceeding], to be paid by the State £aid. mss ’ ° w 
Treasurer, on the warrant of the Auditor General: Provided, That Proviso, 
if such discharged convict shall not be in indigent circumstances, 
the treasurer of such Asylum shall take all necessary proceedings to 
reimburse the State for his support at such Asylum from his prop¬ 
erty, or such of his relatives as may be liable for his support. 


XII. Supervision of Charitable, Penal, Pau¬ 
per, and Reformatory Institutions. 


An Act to provide for the appointment of a Board of Commissioners for the General 
Supervision of Penal, Pauper, and Reformatory Institutions, and defining their 
duties and powers. 

Laws of 1871, p. 321. Approved April 17,1871. 

(1G1.) Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, Appointment. 
That the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
shall appoint four suitable persons, residents of the State, to be 
called and known as “The Board of State Commissioners for the Name of Board. 
General Supervision of Charitable, Penal, Pauper, and Reforma¬ 
tory Institutions,who shall hold their office respectively for the Term of office, 
period of two, four, six, and eight years, as indicated by the Gov¬ 
ernor in making the appointments; and all appointments thereaf¬ 
ter made, except to fill vacancies, shall be for the period of eight 
years. The Governor shall be ex officio, a member of said board. Governor e* 
Any vacancy occurring in said board, by reason of removal, resig- °f b c ^ r 51 ember 
nation, or otherwise, shall be filled by the Governor; the appoint- vacancies, 
ment in any case thus made to be subject to ratification or rejection 
by the Senate at the first regular session following such appoint¬ 
ment. The Governor may remove any member of said board for Removals, 
misfeasance or malfeasance in office. 1 —(§8191.) 


l As amended by act No. 64, p. 73, Laws of 1873. 







40 


Oath of office. 


Secretary. 


Duties of Com- 
missioners rela¬ 
tive to examina¬ 
tion of poor- 
houses, etc. 


May examine 
employes, etc., 
under oath. 


Compensation. 


Expenses. 


Proviso. 


Members of 
board and Secre¬ 
tary not to be 
interested in 
contract for 
building, etc. 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


(162.) Sec. 2. Before entering upon the discharge of their duties, 
each of the said Commissioners shall take and subscribe before the 
Secretary of State, who shall file the same in his office, the consti¬ 
tutional oath of office. The said Commissioners shall have power 
to appoint a secretary, not of their number, whose duties they may 
prescribe, and whose salary they may establish and determine.— 
(§8192.) 

(163.) Sec. 3. The said Commissioners, by one of their number, 
or by their secretary shall, at least once in each year, visit and 
examine into the condition of each and every of the city and county 
poorhouses, county jails, or other places for the detention of crimi¬ 
nals or witnesses; and the said board or a majority thereof, with 
their secretary shall, at least once in each year, visit and examine 
the Reform School, State Prison, Detroit House of Correction, and 
State and county asylums for the insane, and the deaf, dumb, and 
blind, and for the purpose of ascertaining the actual condition of 
the institutions by them or by either of them visited, the method 
of instruction, government or management therein pursued, the 
official conduct of the superintendents or other officers and employes 
in charge thereof, or connected therewith, the condition of the 
buildings, grounds or other property thereunto belonging, and the 
facts as to all other matters in any manner pertaining to the use¬ 
fulness and proper management of the institutions, poorhouses, 
and jails above named. They, or either of them, and their secre¬ 
tary, shall have free access thereto at any and all times, and shall 
have authority to administer oaths and examine any person or per¬ 
sons in any way connected with or having knowledge of the condi¬ 
tion, management, and discipline of such institutions, jails, or 
poorhouses, as to any matters or inquiries not contrary to the pur¬ 
poses or provisions of this act.— (§8193.) 

(164.) Sec. 4. The said commissioners shall receive no compen¬ 
sation for their time or services, except as hereinafter particularly 
provided; but the actual expenses of each of them, while engaged 
in the performance of their duties under this act, and any actual 
outlay for stationery, office-rent, or any necessary aid or assistance 
required in examinations or investigations, on being fully stated in 
account and verified by the affidavit of the Commissioner or Com¬ 
missioners making the charge, or the affidavit of their secretary, 
and approved by the Governor, shall be paid quarterly by the State 
Treasurer, on the warrant of the Auditor General, out of any money 
in the treasury not otherwise appropriated; and the secretary of 
said board shall be paid in like manner: Provided, That the entire 
expense of said board or commission, and the salary and traveling 
expenses of their secretary, shall not exceed the sum of five thousand 
dollars per annum, exclusive of the sum mentioned in section seven 
of this act . 1 — (§8194.) 

(165.) Sec. 5. No member of said board, or their secretary, 
shall be either directly or indirectly interested in any contract for 
building, repairing, or furnishing any institution, poor-house, or 

1 As amended by Act No, 64, p. 73, Laws of 1873. 






SUFPORT of poor persons. 


41 


jail, which by this act they are authorized to visit and inspect; nor No officer eii- 
shall any officer of such institution, jail, or poor-house, be eligible Smmis S ^ C er. of 
to the office of Commissioner, hereby created. 1 —(§8195.) 

(166.) Sec. 6. On or before the first day of October, in the year Biennial report, 
eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and in each second year there¬ 
after, the said board shall report in writing to the Governor, fully, 
the result of their investigation, together with such other informa¬ 
tion and recommendations as they may deem proper, including 
their opinions and conclusions as to the necessity of further legis¬ 
lation to improve the condition and extend the usefulness of the 
various State, county, and other institutions by them visited; and special inresti. 
the said Commissioners, or either of them, shall make any special fnd°?ecom P ra?Ad- 
investigation into alleged abuse in any of the institutions which by ations. 
this act they are authorized to visit, whenever the Governor shall 
so direct, and report the result thereof to him at such reasonable 
time as he shall prescribe. And whenever any abusive treatment 
of those confined in any of said institutions shall come to the 
knowledge of said Commissioners which, in their opinion, requires 
immediate attention and redress, they shall forthwith report the 
facts of such abusive treatment to the Governor, with such recom¬ 
mendations for the correction of the same as they shall deem proper. 

—(§8196.) 

(167.) Sec. 7. And the said board, in addition to the duties Examination of 
..above prescribed, shall make a thorough examination of all the Simtions! 5t0 
penal, criminal, or other laws of the State relating to the penal or 
reformatory institutions by them to be visited, or in any wise relat¬ 
ing to the custody and punishment of criminals, and the care and 
confinement of the county poor and pauper insane, for the purpose 
of a revision of such laws by the Legislature, at the first regular 
session following the passage of this act; and to accomplish this collection and 
end, said board shall collect together all acts and parts of acts in revisiouoflaw3 - 
any manner appertaining to the control, punishment, and reforma¬ 
tion of criminals, and to the care and custody of the county poor 
and pauper insane, and shall report the same fully to the Governor 
on or before November first, eighteen hundred and seventy-four, 
together with such revision, amendments, and suggestions for the 
improvement thereof as to such board shall be deemed necessary 
and expedient; the report thus made to be submitted to the Legis¬ 
lature by the Governor. The Secretary of State is hereby required secretary of 
to furnish said board with so many copies of the statutes and laws furnisl1 
.as in the judgment of the Governor may be required in the accom¬ 
plishment of said work. And said board, for the time actually compensation of 
required in the discharge of the duty imposed by this section, shall board * 
be entitled to demand and receive such reasonable compensation as 
. shall be approved by the Governor, not exceeding the sum of two 
thousand dollars, which shall be paid in the manner heretofore pro¬ 
vided for the payment of their actual traveling and other necessary 
expenses. 1 —(§8197.) 

(168.) Sec. 8. Nothing in this act shall be construed as impair- construction of 
.ing the authority or interfering with the duties of the Board of thi8act - 

1 As amended by Act No. 64, p. 73, Laws of 1873. 

6 






42 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Visiting of simi¬ 
lar institutions 
for the purpose 
of gaining infor. 
mation. 


Idem. 


Appointment of 
commissioners to 
select site, etc. 


Powers of com¬ 
missioners. 


Inspectors of the State Prison and the Board of Control of the 
Reform School, or with the duties of the board of control, trustees, 
commissioners, or inspectors of any other charitable, penal, or 
reformatory institution of this State.— (§8198.) 

(169.) Sec. 9. Whenever the Governor shall deem it advisable 
and expedient to obtain information in respect to the condition and 
practicable workings of charitable, penal, pauper, and reformatory 
institutions in other States, he may authorize and designate any 
member of said board, or the secretary thereof, to visit such insti¬ 
tutions in operation in other States, and by personal inspection to* 
carefully observe and report to said board on all such matters relat¬ 
ing to the conduct and management thereof as may be deemed to- 
be interesting, useful, and of value to be understood in the govern¬ 
ment and discipline of similar institutions in this State. 1 

(170.) Sec. 10. The Governor may appoint one or more suitable* 
females, who shall, in behalf of said board, personally visit and 
inspect such of the aforesaid State or county institutions as said 
board shall designate, and inquire into the condition and treatment 
of the inmates therein, and especially investigate the provision 
made for women, and children of tender years, with the method of 
instruction, and the means used for their cure or reformation. 
Said female visitors shall receive no compensation for their time or 
services; but the actual traveling expenses of each of them, verified 
as heretofore provided for the accounts of members of this board,, 
and approved by the Governor, shall be paid in the same manner, 
and out of the moneys provided for the expenses of said board. 
Said female visitors shall from time to time report to the board the 
results of their investigation. 1 


XIII. Care and Support of Dependent and 
Neglected Children. 


An Act to establish a State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. 

Laws of 1871, p. 280. Approved April 17, 1871. 

(171.) Section 1 . The People of the State of Michigan enact , 
That the Governor shall appoint three commissioners for the pur¬ 
pose of selecting a suitable site and erecting thereon buildings for 
a State School or temporary home for dependent and neglected 
children, such institution to be known as the ‘ ‘ State Public 
School.”— (§3773.) 

(172.) Sec. 2. The said commissioners shall have power to, 
receive proposals for the donation of land to the State for such, 
site, and to receive the same by gift, or. they may purchase such 
site if no proper location shall be given for that purpose, and they 

1 As added by Act No. 64, p. 73, Laws of 1873. 









SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


43 


may receive proposals for donations of money or other securities, 
in behalf of this State, for the benefit of such School, and they 
may locate the same at such point as they shall deem for the best 
interests of this State. They shall receive no pay for their services 
under this act, except their traveling and other official expenses. 
That the Governor shall be ex officio a member of said board.— 
(§3774.) 

(173.) Sec. 3. That the deeds for such site shall be duly exe¬ 
cuted to the people of this State and delivered to the Auditor 
General, and the State Treasurer thereupon is hereby directed to 
pay, on the warrant of the Auditor General, to such grantor of 
whom such site shall be purchased, in case of the purchase of the 
same, such sums of money as may be required to pay for the site: 
Provided, That not over two thousand dollars shall be paid for 
that purpose. That said commissioners shall at their first meeting 
appoint from their number a secretary and treasurer.— (§3775.) 

(174.) Sec. 4. That the sum of fifteen thousand dollars for 
the year eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and fifteen thousand 
dollars for the year eighteen hundred and seventy-three, is hereby 
appropriated for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions 
of this act, which said sums the Auditor General shall add to and 
incorporate in the State tax for the years eighteen hundred and 
seventy-one and eighteen hundred and seventy-two, and, when col¬ 
lected, shall be passed to the credit of the State Public School 
fund, and may be drawn by the treasurer of said commissioners 
upon warrants made by their secretary, approved by commissioners, 
and countersigned by the Governor.—(§377G.) 

(175.) Sec. 5. It shall hQ the duty of the secretary of said 
commissioners to render, quarter-yearly, to the Auditor General 
accounts current of all cash transactions, and all moneys received, 
with the proper vouchers; and no money shall be drawn by virtue 
of this act by said commissioners unless they shall have first filed 
with the Auditor General an estimate and statement, showing the 
purpose for which such money is required.—(§3777.) 

(176.) Sec. 6 . The said commissioners shall have the superin¬ 
tendence of the grounds, and the design and construction of the 
necessary buildings, with power to appoint an architect, superin¬ 
tendent, and other necessary agents and assistants, and to fix the 
compensation for their services, subject to the approval of the Gov¬ 
ernor. The principal building shall have a capacity for not less 
than one hundred children.— (§3778.) 

(177.) Sec. 7. Said commissioners, before they enter upon the 
duties of their office, shall each take and subscribe the constitu¬ 
tional oath of office, and file the same in the office of the Secretary 
of State, and the treasurer of said commissioners shall give his 
bond to the people of this State in the penal sum of ten thousand 
dollars, with two or more sufficient sureties approved by the Gov¬ 
ernor, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties re¬ 
quired of him, and to properly account for all moneys received by 
him under this act.— (§3779.) 


Compensation. 


Governor ex 
officio member. 


Payment for 
site and deeds 
for same. 


Proviso. 


Secretary and 
treasurer. 


Appropriation. 


Provisions to 
meet appropri¬ 
ation. 


Quarterly ac¬ 
count to Auditor- 
General.. 


Condition pre¬ 
cedent to draw¬ 
ing money. 


Superintendence- 
of construction* 
etc. 


Capacity of 
building. 


Oath of office. 


Bond of treas¬ 
urer. 



44 


Certificate of 
completion. 

rublic notice of 
same and tempo¬ 
rary control of 
school. 


Appointment of 
board of control. 


' Term of office. 


Corporate name 
and rights. 


Board of control 
to meet quar¬ 
terly. 


Bond of treas¬ 
urer. 


Government of 
school. 


Officers for 
. school. 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


(178.) Sec. 8. When the State Public School shall be finished, 
the said commissioners shall make under their hands a certificate 
thereof, which shall be transmitted to the Governor, who shall 
thereupon give public notice that the same is ready for the recep¬ 
tion of dependent and neglected children. That after the comple¬ 
tion of State Public School building, and until the last day of 
the session of the Legislature next succeeding such completion, 
said commissioners shall have the control and government of said 
State Public School, with the same authority and duties as are 
given to the board named in section nine of this act.—(§3780.) 

(179.) Sec. 9. The general supervision and government of said 
State Public School shall be vested in a board of control, to con¬ 
sist of three members, who shall be appointed by the Governor, by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the members of 
which board shall hold their offices for the respective terms of two, 
four, and six years, from the last day of the session of the Legis¬ 
lature next after the completion of said State Public School build¬ 
ing, and until their •successors shall be appointed and qualified, 
said respective terms of office to be designated in their several 
appointments; and thereafter there shall be one of said board 
appointed every two years, whose term of office shall continue for 
six years, or until his successor is appointed and qualified. The 
members of said board shall constitute a body corporate, under 
the name and style of the “ Board of Control of the State Public 
School/’ with the right of suing and being sued, of making and 
using a common seal, and altering it at pleasure. That said board 
of control shall have the power of taking and holding by purchase, 
gift, donation, devise, or bequest, real or personal estate to be ap¬ 
plied to the use of the institution.—(§3781.) 

(180.) Sec. 10. It shall be the duty of said board of control to 
meet once in three months on its own adjournments, and oftener 
if necessary; that the said board shall elect from its own number, 
a president, secretary, and treasurer, each of whom shall hold his 
office during the pleasure of said board; that the said treasurer 
shall give his bond to the people of this State, with two or more 
sufficient sureties to be approved by said board and the Governor, 
in the penal sum of at least ten thousand dollars, or in such addi- 
ditional penal sum as said board may require, conditioned for the 
faithful performance of the duties required of him by law, and to 
account for and pay over as required by law, all moneys received 
by him as such treasurer. The said board of control shall estab¬ 
lish a system of government for the institution, and shall make all 
necessary rules and regulations for enforcing discipline, imparting 
instruction, preserving health, and for the [proper] physical, intel¬ 
lectual, and moral training of the children. The said board shall 
appoint a superintendent, a matron, and such other officers, teach¬ 
ers, and employes as shall be necessary, who shall severally hold 
their offices or places during the pleasure of said board, and that 
said board shall prescribe their duties, and fix their salaries, sub¬ 
ject to the approval of the Governor. 1 —(§3782.) 


1 As amended by act No. 58, p. 52, Laws of 1875. 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


45’ 


(181.)^ Sec. 11. There shall be received as pupils in said school Reception and 
those children who are declared dependent on the public for sup- pupils, 1 “Sdaii- 
port, as provided in this act, who are over three and under fourteen |^° 1 r elation boar<i 
years of age, and who are in suitable condition of body and mind thereto? 011 
to receive instruction. That said board is authorized in admitting 
clildren, to give preference to those under twelve years of age. That 
those admitted, unless sent from the institution as provided by this 
act, shall be retained until they are sixteen years of age and may 
be retained after that age, in the option of said board, until a home 
is procured for them. That said board is authorized to return to Return of chil- 
the county sending it any child, when it shall become sixteen years dren t0 count y- 
of age, and no home has been procured, or whenever after its ad¬ 
mission it shall be ascertained to the satisfaction of said board that 
the child was of unsound mind, or unsound body, at the time of its 
admission, or if for any other reason said board shall consider said 
child an improper inmate of said school; that, in the case of the 
return of any child as herein provided to the county sending it, the 
guardianship of this board shall cease, and the child shall again 
become a charge on the county sending it. The said board of Report of reason' 
control shall report in writing, to the superintendents of the county forreturn - 
poor of the proper county, the reason for returning the child. 1 — 

(§3783.) 

(182.) Sec. 12. The children in such school shall be maintained Maintenance and 
and educated in the branches usually taught in common schools, educatlon - 
and-shall have proper physical and moral training.—(§3784.) 

(183.) Sec. 13. It is declared to be the object of this act to pro- object of act. 
vide for such children only temporary homes until homes can be 
procured for them in families. It shall be the duty of sucli board Board to provide 
of control to use all diligence to provide suitable places in good ?nfami!i<L pupils 
families for all such pupils as have received an elementary educa¬ 
tion ; and any other pupils may be placed in good families on con¬ 
dition that their education shall be provided for in the public schools 
of the town or city where they may reside. That said board of con- Board legal 
trol are hereby made the legal guardians of all the children who ciTwre 8 ?. 3 ° f 
may become inmates of said school, with authority to bind out any 
child to a pursuit or trade during minority, under a contract insur¬ 
ing the child kind and proper treatment and a fair elementary edu¬ 
cation.— (§3785.) 

(184.) Sec. 14. That whenever there shall be sufficient room for children not to 
the reception of the class of children described in this act, in such house? in 1,001 '* 
State Public School, no such children shall hereafter be maintained 
in county poorhouses. That in receiving such children into such soldiers’ or. 
School, preference shall be given first to dependent and indigent ^ e a ferenc bave 
orphans or half orphans of deceased soldiers and sailors of this 
State.— (§3786.) 

(185.) Sec. 15. As soon as the State Public School buildings secretary of 
are ready for the admission of inmates, and thereafter semi-annu- siipenntendeSts 
ally, and whenever inquired of by the superintendents of the poor, ofpoor * 
it shall be the duty of the secretary of the Board of Control to 


i As amended by Act No. 145, p. 136, Laws of 1877. 







46 


LAWS RELATING TO TIIE 


How divided 
among the sev¬ 
eral counties. 


Superintendents 
of poor to for¬ 
ward children. 


Expenses, how 
defrayed. 


Examination of 
children before 
sending. 


notify the superintendents of the poor of each county how many 
children of the county notified can be received in said school 
That the admission for dependent children in said school shall be, 
as near as practical, divided among the several counties in propor¬ 
tion to the number of dependent children in each. That it shall be 
the duty of the superintendents of the poor of each county to for¬ 
ward to said school any dependent and neglected children that 
are entitled by this act to admission thereto in the manner herein 
provided. All expenses attending the forwarding of such children 
and of the examination herein provided for, and of returning to the 
counties where they belong children not entitled to admission, shall 
be defrayed by the county to which they belong, by the county trea¬ 
surer, out of the funds appropriated to the support of the poor 
belonging to such county, after being allowed and certified by the 
county superintendents. 1 —(§3787.) 

( 186 .) Sec. 16 . Before the superintendents of the poor shall 
send any child to said school, they shall cause him to be brought 
before the judge of probate in the county where the child belongs, 
for examination by the judge of probate as to his alleged depend¬ 
ence ; and it shall be the duty of the superintendents of the poor of 
each county, in the case of children in the poorhouses, or other 
children which shall be found in a state of want or suffering, or 
being abandoned or improperly exposed, or children in any orphan 
asylum where the officers thereof desire to surrender them to the 
care of the State, whenever there shall be a vacancy for their county 
in said school, to bring such children before the said judge of pro¬ 
bate for said examination; and it shall thereupon be the duty of 
the said judge of probate to investigate the facts in each case and 
ascertain whether such children are dependent; their ages, names, 
and residence of parents, and in what county, poorhouse, or orphan 
asylum they have been kept, if any, and for how long a time ; and 
said judge of probate shall have power to compel the attendance of 
witnesses, and may in his discretion request the attendance of the 
prosecuting attorney on such examinations, and, if so requested, it 
shall be the duty of such prosecuting attorney to attend in behalf 
of the county. The parents or any friend may appear in behalf of 
any child, and in his discretion the said judge of probate may re¬ 
quest any supervisor of any town or ward to appear in behalf of any 
child; and if, on such examination, the said judge of probate shail 
find that any child is dependent and neglected, he shall enter such 
finding by a proper order in the journal of the probate court in his 
office, and shall deliver to the superintendent of the poor procuring 
such examination a certified copy of such order, which shall con¬ 
tain, besides said findings, a statement of the facts so far as ascer¬ 
tained, as to the age of the child, names and residence of parents, 
and name of county poorhouse or orphan asylum where the child 
has been maintained, and the length of time of such maintenance; 
and in the case of the examination of two or more children at the 
same time, only one order need be made; and said certified copy 

i As amended by Act No. 144., p. 191, Laws of 1873. 





















Expense defray- Sectiok 4, Act No. 76, Laws of 1875. The expense of trans- 

ed by state. portation of children who may be sent to said school pursuant to 
law, shall be audited by the board of state auditors, and paid out 
of the general fund. 


SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


47 


of said order shall be delivered, with the child at said school, to 
the superintendent thereof. 1 

(187.) Sec. 17. It shall be the duty of said Board of Control to Board to keep 
provide and always keep open for inspection of all persons desiring tSnVre^st^ 0 ' 
to examine it, a book in which shall be registered the names and book * 
ages of the children received in said school, and the residence of 
parents as near as can be ascertained, in which book shall also be 
recorded the date when the child is received and when the child 
left the school, and whether the child was apprenticed, placed in a 
family, or otherwise, and if placed in a family, the name, resi¬ 
dence, and occupation of the head of such family, and if appren¬ 
ticed, to whom. 1 

(Sec. 18.) 2 

(188.) Sec. 19. The said Board of Control is authorized to Agent of the 
designate some officer, teacher, or other employe connected with !ckoof ublic 
said school to act as the agent thereof, and who shall act in that 
capacity during the pleasure of said Board of Control, and shall be 
known as the Agent of the State Public School; and his duties as Dutiesof> 
such agent shall be prescribed by said Board, and shall include the 
visiting, as often and at such times as said Board of Control shall 
determine, any and all children placed in charge of any person by 
said Board of Control, to inquire into the condition of such children 
and make such investigation as may be necessary in relation there¬ 
to, and report the same to said Board of Control; to investigate all 
applications to take such children, by adoption or otherwise, to 
such suitable persons who are willing to adopt, take charge of, or 
otherwise take and keep any children sent to said school; and to 
enter into a contract in writing in behalf and under the instructions 
of said Board of Control, with the persons taking such child; and 
all such contracts shall contain a clause reserving to said Board of 
Control the right to withdraw the child from any person having 
him when in the opinion of the board the welfare of the child 
require it. The said agent, while acting as such, shall be paid his Tobepaidneces. 
necessary traveling expenses by the treasurer of said Board of Con- sar ^ travelin s 
trol after being allowed and certified by said Board of Control. 1 

(189.) Sec. 20. The said board of control shall make out bien- Board of control 
nially, and report to the legislature at its regular session, a detailed 
statement of the operations of said institution, for the two years lature. 
closing with the fiscal year preceding said session, which shall in¬ 
clude a report of the treasurer of the board of all receipts and 
disbursements for the same period. It shall also be the duty of Reportto Super _ 
said board to cause to be made out by the superintendent or other intendentof 
proper officer, and forwarded to the office of the Superintendent of £n! lc Instruc * 
Public Instruction, on or before the first day of November in each 
year, a report for the fiscal year, setting forth the condition of the 
institution, the amount of receipts and expenditures, the num- Whatto8et 
ber of teachers and other officers, and compensation of each, the forth * 
number of inmates that have received instruction, the studies pur¬ 
sued, and the books used; also the mode of instruction and disci- 


1 As added by Act No. 144, Laws of 1373, p. 191. 

2 Section IS struck out of bill. 






4S 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Compensation 
of members of 
board. 


Examination of 
children before 
sending to school 
—duty of super¬ 
intendents of the 
poor. 


Board may con¬ 
sent to adoption 
of children. 


Examination of 
child by physi¬ 
cian. 


pline prescribed, and such other information and suggestions as 
maybe deemed important, or the Superintendent of Public Instruc¬ 
tion may require, to embody in the report of his department. The 
members of said board shall be allowed the expenses necessarily 
incurred by them in the discharge of their official duties, and three 
dollars per day for their official services actually and necessarily 
performed, which shall be audited by the board of State Auditors. 1 

(100.) Sec. 21. That whenever the superintendents of the poor 
of any county shall bring any child before the judge of probate for 
examination as to his alleged dependence, as provided in section 
sixteen of this act, they shall present to said judge an application 
in writing, which shall be filed in his office, for such examination, 
which shall be signed by at least two of said superintendents, in 
which they shall certify that in their opinion the child named is 
dependent on the public for support, and that he has no parents 
against whom his support can be enforced, as provided in chapter 
forty-nine of the compiled laws of eighteen hundred and seventy- 
one. 1 

(191.) Sec. 22. The [that] said board of control is hereby au¬ 
thorized to consent to the adoption of any child who has or shall 
become an inmate of said institution, by any person, pursuant to 
the provisions of an act entitled “An act to provide for changing 
the names of minor adopted children and other persons/ ? approved 
February two, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and that on such 
adoption and proceedings had under such act, whereby the child 
takes the name and becomes the heir of the person so adopting him 
or her, then said board of control shall cease to be the guardian of 
said child. 1 

(192.) Sec. 23. That whenever on [the] examination provided 
for in this act the judge of probate shall determine that the child 
is dependent on the public for support, he shall cause it to be exam¬ 
ined by the county physician, if there be one, and if not, then by 
a respectable practicing physician, and shall in no case enter tho 
order in his journal, showing the child is admissible to this school, 
unless the physician making such examination shall certify in writ¬ 
ing, under oath, filed in said court, that the child examined by him 
is, in his opinion of sound mind, and has no chronic or contagious 
disease, and in his opinion has not been exposed to any contagious 
disease within fifteen days previous to such examination before the 
judge of probate. That a copy of such certificate shall be attached 
to the other papers provided by this act, to accompany each child 
to this school. 2 


1 As added by Act No. 58, Laws of 1875, p. 52. 

2 As added by Act No. 145, Laws of 1877, p. 136. 





SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


49 


XIV. Care of Juvenile Offenders. 


An Act establishing a State agency for the care of juvenile offenders. 

Laws of 1873, p. 229. Approved and took effect April 29,1873. 

(193.) Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact , Appointment of 
That the Governor may appoint in each county of this State an ES counties, 
agent of the Board of State Commissioners for the general supervi¬ 
sion of charitable, penal, pauper and reformatory institutions, who 
shall hold his office at the pleasure of the Governor. Before enter- oath of office, 
ing upon the duties of his office, and within thirty days after receiv¬ 
ing notice of his appointment, said agent shall take and file with 
the county clerk of the county for which he was appointed the oath 
of office prescribed by the constitution of this State, and upon such 
qualification it shall be the duty of the county clerk to immediately Notice of quaii- 
transmit notice thereof to the circuit judge, the probate judge, f B SJS tomas * 
each justice of the peace, and all other magistrates of the county 
haying competent jurisdiction for the trial of juvenile offenders. 

Said agent shall receive, as compensation for his time and services, compensation, 
his actual expenses necessarily incurred while engaged in the per¬ 
formance of his duties under this act, on being fully stated in 
account and verified by the affidavit of the agent, together with the 
sum of three dollars in full for his services in each case investigated 
and reported upon as hereinafter prescribed, when approved by the 
Governor, shall be paid by the State Treasurer on the warrant of the 
Auditor General, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise 
appropriated : Provided , That the sum so allowed for the services Proviso-limit of 
of such agent in any county except the county of Wayne shall not compensation, 
in any one year exceed the sum of one hundred dollars, and that in 
the county of Wayne the sum so allowed for such services shall not 
in any one year exceed the sum of two hundred dollars. 1 

(194.) Sec. 2. Whenever a complaint is made or pending against court to notify 
any boy or girl under the age of sixteen years, for the commission JEtagafnlst 
of any offense not punishable by law with imprisonment for life, chiid * 
before any court or magistrate having competent jurisdiction 
thereof, it shall be the duty of such court or magistrate, before 
proceeding to hear or determine the case, to give notice in writing 
of the pendency thereof to said agent, who shall have opportunity 
allowed him to investigate the charge or charges; and upon receiv- Agent to make 
ing such notice, the agent shall immediately proceed to inquire into paEtagefetc.! 
and make a full examination of the parentage and surroundings of eport t0 
the child, and of all the facts and circumstances of the case, and 
report the same to the court or magistrate, who shall advise and 
counsel with the said agent; and if upon such consultation, after court may order 
full investigation and proof of the offense charged, it shall appear parents^ cluldt ° 
to the court that the public interest and the interest of such child 
will be best subserved thereby, he may make an order for the return 
of such child to his or her parents, guardian, or friends; or he 

i As .amended by Act No. 37, p. 32, Laws of 1875. 

7 







50 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


May authorize may authorize said agent, under the advice and approval of the 
agent to bind j U( j ge of p ro | 3 a te of the county, to take such child and bind him or 
her out to some suitable person until he or she shall have attained 
the age of twenty-one years, or for any less time; or if the child 
May cause to be appear to be willfully way ward and unmanageable, the court may 
Public School, or cause him to be sent to the Reform School, or to a house of correc- 
House of Con’ec. tion authorized by law to receive such boy or girl, subject to such 
form School. conditions of sex and age as are now provided by law for the recep- 


Agent to visit 
indentured 
children, etc., 
at least once a 
year, and inquire 
into treatment. 


Report when 
child is neglected 
or abused. 


Board to cancel 
contract. 

In all indentures, 
etc., right to 
cancel to be re. 
served. 


Proceedings 
when persons 
not of kin wish 
to adopt, etc. 


Relative to re¬ 
lease of inden¬ 
tured children. 


Agents to seek 
out suitable per¬ 
sons to adopt 
children. 


tion of children in said school. 

(195.) Sec. 3. Said agent shall, as often as once in each year, 
visit all children, resident in the county for which he is appointed, 
who shall have been indentured or placed in charge of any person 
therein by any State board or officer of the State, and shall inquire 
into the management, condition, and treatment of such children, 
and for that purpose may have private interviews with such children 
at any time; and if it shall come to the knowledge of such agent 
that any child thus placed in charge of any person as aforesaid is 
neglected, abused, or improperly treated by the person having such 
child in charge, or that the person holding the child is unfit to 
have the care thereof, he shall report the fact to the board or offi¬ 
cers of the institution by which such child was indentured, and 
such board or officers shall cancel the contract and cause the child 
to be returned to the institution from whence he or she was taken, 
or indentured to some other person, or to be discharged, in the dis¬ 
cretion of the board or officers. In all contracts or indentures for 
binding out children from any State institution, the officers making 
the same shall expressly reserve the right to cancel the contract 
whenever in their judgment the interests of the child are not prop¬ 
erly cared for. 

(196.) Sec. 4. No child shall be indentured, adopted, or taken 
during minority, by any person not of kin thereto, from a State 
institution until notice of an application therefor has been given 
to the agent aforesaid residing in the county from which such 
application is made, and until his report in writing, made after an 
investigation into the propriety thereof, has been made and filed 
with the officers of such institution. And all applications for the 
release or discharge of any children so indentured or placed in 
charge of persons in such county, shall be given to said agent for 
his report in like manner. 

(197.) Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of said agents in their respec¬ 
tive counties, to seek out suitable persons who are willing to adopt, 
take charge of, educate, and maintain children arrested for offenses. 


committed to any State institution, or abandoned and neglected 
children in charge of any State institution or officers, and to give 
notice thereof to the boards or officers having authority to dispose 
board^° rt to sucb cbildren * sai( l agents shall, from time to time, make 

report of their doings under this section to the board of which they 
are the agents. 

of Reform School, ( 198 *) Sec * 6 * It sha11 be the dut y of the Superintendent of the 
etc., to notify ’ Reform School, and the principal officer of any State institution 
charge°ofinmates f° r care or reformation of juvenile offenders now or hereafter 



SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


51 


to be established, upon the discharge of any boy or girl received 
therein, forthwith to notify the agent of the Board of State Com¬ 
missioners for the General Supervision of Charitable, Penal, Pau¬ 
per, and Reformatory Institutions residing in the county from 
which such child was sent, of such discharge; and if the boy or Agent to assist 
girl so discharged shall return to such county, the agent shall, as Scoun e ty. rued 
far as possible, assist him or her in procuring suitable employment 
and a good home free from immoral and evil influences. Said To keep history 
agent shall also keep a brief history of each child within his county changed, and re- 
discharged as aforesaid, in a manner and form to be prescribed by time 

the board of which he is agent, and report the same from time to ° me ’ 
time to said board as it may require, to the end that the effect of 
the treatment and discipline of the several institutions of the State 
lor the care and reformation of juvenile delinquents upon their 
discharge therefrom may be better known and understood. 

(199.) Sec. 7. This act shall not apply to any county of the Application of 
State in which no agent shall be appointed by the Governor under act * 
and by virtue of the provisions hereof. 


XV. Hospitals or Asylums, Incorporation op. 


An act for the incorporation of hospitals or asylums in cases where valuable grants 
or emoluments have been made to trustees for such purposes. 

Laws of 1863, p. 425. Approved March 20,1863. 

(200.) Section 1 . The People of the State of Michigan enact , corporations 
That in all cases where lands, or any other property, amounting in authonzed - 
value to five thousand dollars or upwards, have been or shall here¬ 
after be given, granted, devised, or bequeathed to one or more trust¬ 
ees for the purpose of founding or endowing a hospital or other 
charitable asylum within this State, for the care or relief of indi¬ 
gent or other sick or infirm persons, and it shall, for the more 
effective and perfect administration of such trust, be deemed expe¬ 
dient by such trustees to organize themselves as a corporation, then 
the trustees in whom said lands and other property are for the time 
being vested, may become incorporated by executing under their Articles of incor. 
hands, and acknowledging before some person in this State author- p° ration * 
ized to take the acknowledgment of deeds, duplicate articles of 
incorporation, one of which shall be filed in the office of the Sec¬ 
retary of State, and one recorded in the clerk’s office of the county To be filed and 
or counties in this State, in which the office of such' incorporation recorded, 
or association maybe located; and upon the execution and acknowl- Body corporate, 
edgment of such articles, the signers thereof shall become and be 
a body politic and corporate, for the objects and purposes set forth 
in said articles; and they, their successors, and associates, shall 






52 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Powers of. 


Seal. 


Contents of 
articles. 


Boards of 
trustees. 


Term of office. 
Proviso. 


Officers. 


By. laws. 


Property to be 
conveyed to cor¬ 
poration. 


Corporation ma 
receive by gift, 
etc. 

Proviso. 


continue to be such body corporate and politic, and may sue and be 
sued, take, hold, and convey real and personal estate, subject to 
the limitations hereinafter contained ; may adopt a common seal, 
and change the same, and may exercise all the powers, and shall be 
subject to all the responsibilities, by law conferred and imposed.— 
(§3028.) 

(201.) Sec. 2. Said articles shall contain and declare: 

First , The name of such corporation, the city, town, or county 
in which such hospital or asylum is, or is to be located, and the 
period for which it is incorporated ; 

Second, The objects of said corporation, which shall be stated 
with all convenient fullness and certainty; 

Third, The names of the trustees thereby incorporated ; 

■Fourth, The number of persons who shall constitute the perma¬ 
nent board of trustees of such corporation, the mode of the elec¬ 
tion or appointment of the first board of trustees, the time for which 
the trustees shall be elected or appointed, and the mode in which 
their successors shall be elected or appointed; 

Fifth, Such other officers of the corporation as may be deemed 
necessary; 

Sixth, The time of holding the annual meeting; 

Seventh, There shall also be annexed to such articles a copy of 
the deed, will, or other instrument by which the original gift, 
grant, devise, or bequest was made to such trustees.—(§3029.) 

(202.) Sec. 3. The affairs of said corporation shall be managed 
by a board of trustees, not less than three nor more than fifteen in 
number, who shall be chosen or appointed in such manner as is 
fixed in the articles of the [in]corporation; such trustees shall hold 
for the term or time in such articles fixed, and until their successors 
are chosen : Provided , That when the number of trustees and the 
mode of the appointment of their successors is fixed in the deed, 
will, or other instrument of the original founder, the provisions 
relating thereto shall govern in said corporation, so far as consist¬ 
ent with the laws of this State. The other officers of said cor¬ 
poration shall be chosen by the trustees, from their own numbers 
or otherwise, as the trustees shall determine. A majority of such 
trustees shall form a quorum, and may make by-laws, and alter 
the same, for the more orderly transaction of their business, and 
for the regulation of the care or relief to indigent and other sick 
and infirm persons. As soon as such corporation shall be duly 
organized, the individual trustees who hold or possess the lands or 
other property so given, granted, devised or bequeathed, shall 
forthwith convey and deliver the same to such corporation by deed 
or other proper mode of transfer, and said corporation shall there¬ 
upon and thereafter hold, possess and enjoy the same to the same 
extent, and for the same purposes, as designed and declared by the 
original donor.—(§3030.) 

(203.) Sec. 4. Such corporation may, by gift, grant, devise, or 
bequest, take, receive, and hold any property, real or personal, but 
only for the purposes for which it is incorporated; Provided, That 
said corporation shall not hold any lands except such as shall be 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


53 


necessary for the direct and reasonable use or convenience of its 
hospital or asylum, for a longer period than ten years.— : (§3031.) 

(204.) Sec. 5. The trustees of said corporation, or a majority of Trustees may 
them, are hereby authorized and empowered to indenture or appren- tSte children! 41 ' 
tice to responsible persons, any destitute or foundling children now, 
or which may be hereafter, in charge or care of said corporation, 
until such children shall respectively become of lawful age, and to 
make such indenture in each case as binding and effective in all 
respects as if said trustees were the lawful parents or guardians of 
said children : Provided , Said trustees shall have power to withdraw Proviso, 
such child from any person to whom he or she may be indentured, 
when, in their opinion the interests of the child may require it. 

No trustees of said corporation shall be entitled to any coinpensa- Trustees not en- 
tion except under some special employment by the board or author- sation. to compen ' 
ity expressed in the original deed or instrument of trust. 1 —(3032.) 

(205.) Sec. 6. All the funds of said corporation shall be faith- f^s, how 
fully and exclusively used for the purposes, thereof, as set forth in use 
its articles, and the same shall be wholly used within this State. 

Said corporation may invest its funds by loan, on mortgage security, 
or by purchase of any city, county, State, or United States bonds, 
or by loan on pledge of the same: Provided, That no loan of such Proviso, 
funds shall be made to any trustee, officer, or servant of such cor¬ 
poration .—(§3033.) 

(206.) Sec. 7. The property on which said asylum or institution Property ex- 
building stands, together with said building, shall, while occupied tff romtaxa * 
for the objects and purposes thereof, be exempt from taxation.— 

(3034.) 

(207.) Sec. 8. Such corporation, whenever required by the Attor- Report of 
ney General or the Legislature, shall make and exhibit a full state- lusoe6, 
ment of its affairs, under the oath of one or more of its trustees; 
and for any neglect so to report when required, each one of its ^^re^ort 1 * 8 * 
officers, and all of the trustees so neglecting, shall be liable to a ec orepor ' 
penalty of fifty dollars each, to be recovered by action of debt, in 
the name of the people of the State of Michigan ; Provided , That Proviso, 
said corporation may report to the Legislature each and every year 
after the establishment of such asylum or other institution, should 
they desire so to do.—(§3035.) 


XVI. Industrial and other Charitable 
Schools. 


An Act for the incorporation of Industrial and other Charitable Schools. 

Laws of 1867, p. 186. Approved March 27, 1867. 

(208.) Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact , How incorpora. 
That any three or more persons, who may desire to become incor- e ’ 


i As amended by Act No. 10, p. 10, Laws of 1875. 






51 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Articles of asso¬ 
ciation. 
Contents. 


Number of 
trustees. 


How officers 
chosen. 

Majority of 
trustees a quo¬ 
rum. 


Power to hold 
real estate. 


How funds to be 
used. 


porated for the purpose of maintaining industrial schools for tho 
relief and instruction of the children of the poor, or the mainten¬ 
ance of homes for vagrant and friendless children, or the instruc¬ 
tion of children generally in the various mechanical trades or other 
avocations of life, or for the purpose of one or all of these objects 
united, may execute, under their hands, and acknowledge before 
some person within this State, authorized to take the acknowleg- 
ment of deeds, one or more duplicate articles of agreement, as 
hereinafter specified, one copy whereof shall be filed and recorded 
in the office of the Secretary of State, and a second shall be made 
of such articles, or a certified copy thereof, in the clerk’s office of 
the county or counties in this State, in which the office of said asso¬ 
ciation for the transaction of business may be located; and upon 
the execution and acknowledgment of such articles, the signers 
thereof, and those who may thereafter become associated with 
them, shall become a body politic and corporate, for the purpose or 
purposes set forth in said articles.—(§3042.) 

(209.) Sec. 2. The articles of this association shall contain— 

First , The names of the persons associating in the first instances, 
with their places of residence; 

Second , The name of such corporation, and the place where its 
office for the transaction of business is located, and the period for 
which it is incorporated, not exceeding thirty years; 

Third, The objects for which it is organized, which shall be 
stated with convenient certainty, and expressly; 

Fourth, The number of its trustees and regular officers, and the 
time and place of holding its annual meeting; 

Fifth, The terms and conditions of membership therein.— 
(§3043.) 

(210.) Sec. 3. The affairs of such corporation shall be managed 
by not less than five nor more than twenty trustees to be chosen 
by the members thereof, and to hold office for one year, and until 
their successors be chosen ; and the regular officers thereof, except 
the treasurer and secretary, shall form a part of said trustees, and 
the treasurer and secretary shall be chosen from said trustees,. The 
officers may be chosen by said trustees, or by the members of such 
corporation, as the articles shall prescribe. The by-laws of such 
corporation shall be adopted by such trustees, who may change 
them at their pleasure. A majority of the trustees shall be a quo¬ 
rum to transact business, and all of such trustees shall be citizens 
of the United States, and residents of the State of Michigan.— 
(§3044.) 

(211.) Sec. 4. No such corporation shall have power to take 
and hold any real estate, except such as may be necessary for any 
schools, shops or other buildings under its control, or for the trans¬ 
action of its business and carrying out of its purposes, for a longer 
period than ten years.—(§3045.) 

(212.) Sec. 5. All the funds received by any such corporation shall 
be used in the first instance, or shall be invested, and the income 
thereof used (after paying necessary expenses) for the exclusive 
purpose or purposes set forth in the articles of association; and no 





SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


55 


portion thereof shall be used for any such purpose or purposes, 
except within this State, and no portion of the funds of any such 
corporation shall be used or contributed towards the erection, com¬ 
pletion, or furnishing of any building not owned or used by such 
corporation. Such corporation may take by gift, purchase, or Amount of prop- 
devise, property to an amount not exceeding one hundred thousand erty hmited * 
dollars, and it shall be lawful to invest the same upon mortgage, How invested, 
or in city, county, State, or government securities, but no loan of 
its funds shall be made to any trustee or officer of such corpora¬ 
tion : Provided , That any such corporation may, in its articles of Proviso, 
association, specify the kind of securities in which its funds shall 
be invested, and that no part of its funds shall be invested in any investments, 
securities other than those named in its articles, or where the 
securities shall not be specified in its articles of association, then 
such funds shall only be invested in such securities as are specified 
in this act.—(§3046.) 

(213.) Sec. 6. Any corporation formed under this act shall, J eport nnder 
whenever required by the Attorney General or by the Legislature, 
report a full statement of all its affairs, under the oath of at least 
two of its trustees; and for any neglect to furnish such report Penalty for neg- 
when required, all of the trustees so neglecting shall be liable to a lect * 
penalty of fifty dollars each, to be recovered by action of debt in 
the name of the people of the State of Michigan.—(§3047.) 


XVII. Relief of Poor Debtors from Impris¬ 
onment. 


Chapter one hundred and forty-six of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(214.) Section 1. Every person who shall be imprisoned by Personsimpris- 
virtue of one or more executions in civil causes, may make appli- ?or e diSrge. ply 
cation for his discharge from imprisonment in the cases and in the 
manner hereinafter specified. 1 —(§7322.) 

(215.) Sec. 2. Such application may be made at the times follow- when apply¬ 
ing, that is to say: made? ay be 

First , If the amount due on such execution shall not exceed 
twenty-five dollars, after he shall have been imprisoned thirty 
days; 

Second , If the amount due on such executions be more than 
twenty-five dollars, and not exceeding fifty dollars, after he shall 
have been imprisoned sixty days; 

Third , If the amount due on such executions be more than fifty 
dollars, and not exceeding one hundred dollars, and after he shall 
have been imprisoned ninety days; 


1 As amended by Act 105 of 1847. Laws of 1847, p.J172, Sec. 14. 






56 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Sheriff or jailor 
to notify officer. 


Officer to appoint 
time and place 
for examination, 
and notice there¬ 
of to he given. 


When and how 
notice to be pub¬ 
lished etc. 


Hearing before 
officer. 


When officer to 
administer oath. 


Form of oath 


Fourth, If the amount due on such executions be more than one 
hundred dollars, hud not exceeding five hundred dollars, after he 
shall have been imprisoned six months; 

Fifth, If the amount due on such executions shall exceed five 
hundred dollars, after ho shall have been imprisoned nine months. 1 
—(§7323.) 

(216.) Sec. 2. The person so entitled to apply for his discharge 
may represent to the jailor or sheriff in whose custody he shall be 
that he is unable to pay the amount due on the execution or exe¬ 
cutions, by virtue of which he is imprisoned, and is desirous to 
take the benefit of the law for the relief of poor debtors, and 
thereupon such sheriff or jailor shall make such desire known to a 
circuit court commissioner or judge of the circuit court for the 
same county.—(§7324.) 

(217.) Sec. 3. The officer to whom such desire shall be so made 
known shall thereupon appoint a time and place within the same 
county for the examination of such debtor, and notice of such time 
and place shall be given to the plaintiff in every such execution, or 
his attorney, if within the same or any adjoining county, at least 
three days before such examination.—(§7325.) 

(218.) Sec. 4. If neither such plaintiffs nor their attorneys shall 
be found within either of such counties, such notice shall be pub¬ 
lished by posting the same upon the outer door of the jail in which 
such person is imprisoned, at least six days before such examination. 
—(§7326.) 

(219.) Sec. 5. On the day appointed for such examination, the 
sheriff or jailor shall have the prisoner at the place designated by 
such officer: and on due proof of notice having been given as here¬ 
inbefore provided, such judge or commissioner shall examine the 
prisoner on oath concerning his estate and effects, and the disposal 
thereof, and his ability to pay the sum for which he is committed, 
or any part thereof, and shall hear any other legal and pertinent 
evidence that may be produced by the prisoner or any plaintiff in 
such execution.—(§7327.) 

(220.) Sec. 6. If the officer before whom such examination is 
had shall be satisfied of the truth of the facts set forth in the oath 
to be taken by the debtor, and in the certificate to be made by such 
officer, as required in the two following sections, he shall adminis¬ 
ter to such debtor the oath hereinafter prescribed.—(§7328.) 

(221.) Sec. 7. Such oath shall be in the following form : 

“l do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that I 
have no estate, real or personal, to the amount of twenty dollars, 
except such goods and chattels as are by law exempt from execu¬ 
tion, and that I have not any other estate, now conveyed or con¬ 
cealed, with design to secure the same to my use, or to the use of 
my family, or to defraud my creditorswhich oath shall be signed 
by the person making the same, and be certified by the officer.— 
(§7329.) 

(222.) Sec. 8. After administering such oath, such officer shall 


1 Added by Act 105 of 1847, Sec. 14. 






SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


57 


make a certificate under his hand, in substance in the following 
form: 

‘ 4 County of ss. 

“To the keeper of the jail of said county: 

“I, the subscriber, judge of the county court (or a circuit court 
-commissioner, as the case may be) for said county, do hereby cer¬ 
tify that A B, a poor prisoner, confined upon execution in a civil 
cause, in the jail of said county, has caused C D, the person at 
whose suit he is imprisoned, to be notified according to law, of his 
desire to take the benefit of the law for the relief of poor debtors; 
that in my opinion the said A B has no estate, real or personal, 
to the amount of twenty dollars, except such goods and chattels as 
•are by law exempt from execution, and has not any other estate 
now conveyed or concealed, or in any way disposed of with design 
to secure the same to his own use or the use of his family, or to 
defraud his creditors; and that I have, after due examination of 
the said A B, administered to him the oath prescribed by law to 
fee taken by poor prisoners, who are committed on execution in 
civil causes.”—(§7330.) 

(223.) Sec. 9. The jailor, upon receiving such certificate, shall 
discharge the prisoner so far as he is held in prison on the execu¬ 
tion or executions therein mentioned, and such certificate, and the 
cath taken by such prisoner shall be filed and preserved in the 
office of the clerk of the county in which the proceedings were 
had.—(§7331.) 

(224.) Sec. 10. If the officer to whom any application shall be 
made under the provisions of this chapter, after the examination 
of the prisoner, shall not be satisfied that he is entitled to his dis¬ 
charge, such prisoner shall be remanded to prison; but he shall 
not thereby be prevented from obtaining his discharge upon new 
notice to the creditor or creditors, and new proceedings before the 
•'Same or some other proper officer, in the manner herein provided.— 
(§7332.) 

(225.) Sec. 11. The debtor, after being so discharged, shall be 
forever exempted from arrest or imprisonment for the same debt, 
unless he shall be convicted of having sworn falsely upon his exam¬ 
ination before the officer, or in taking the oath before prescribed. 1 — 
<§7333.) 

(226.) Sec. 12. If he shall be so convicted, he shall have no ben¬ 
efit from the proceedings had under this chapter, and shall be liable 
to the punishment of perjury; and the creditor or creditors may 
have new executions against the body, or against the goods and 
chattels, lands, and tenements of the debtor, in like manner as if 
he had not been committed on execution.—(§7334.) 


Form of certifi¬ 
cate to be made 
by officer. 


Prisoner to be 
discharged, and 
oath and certifi¬ 
cate filed. 


When prisoner 
to be remanded, 
etc. 


Debtor dis¬ 
charged to be 
forever ex¬ 
empted, unless, 
etc. 


Consequences if 
debtor convicted 
of perjury. 


1 As amended bv Act No. 99, p. 79, Laws of 1877. 







LAWS RELATING TO THE 


S8 


XVIII. Masters, Apprentices, and Servants. 


Chapter eighty-seven of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

infantsma (227.) Section 1. Every male infant, and every unmarried 

Mnd^hemseives female under the age of eighteen years, with the consent of the 
etc.^ P for what* persons or officers hereinafter mentioned, may, of his or her own 
terms. free will bind himself or herself in writing, to serve as clerk, ap¬ 

prentice, or servant in any profession, trade or employment; if a 
male, until the age of twenty-one years, and if a female, until the 
age of eighteen years, or until her marriage within that age, or for 
any shorter time; and such binding shall be as valid and effectual 
as if such infant was of full age at the time of making such engage¬ 
ment.—(§4857.) 

(228.) Sec. 2. Such consent shall be given— 

Consent, by First, By the father of the infant. If he be dead or be not in a 
whom given. } e g a i capacity to give his consent, or if he shall have abandoned 
and neglected to provide for his family, and such fact be certified 
by a justice of the peace of the township and endorsed on the in¬ 
denture; then, 

Second, By the mother. If the mother be dead, or be not in a 
legal capacity to give such consent, or refuse ; then, 

Third, By the guardian of such infant duly appointed. If such 
infant have no parent living, or none in a legal capacity to give 
consent, and there be no guardian ; then, 

Fourth, By any two justices of the peace of the township where 
such infant may reside ; 

Fifth, By the recorder of any city in the county, or by the pro¬ 
bate judge of such county. 1 —(§4858.) 

How consent to (229.) Sec. 3. Such consent shall be signified by the person or 
be signified. 0 ffi ce rs entitled to give the same, by writing at the end of or 
indorsed upon each part of the indentures, signed by such person 
or officers, and not otherwise.—(§4859.) 
indentures. (230.) Sec. 4. No minor shall be bound as aforesaid, unless by 

indentures in two parts, sealed and delivered by both parties.— 
(§4860.) 

when superin- (231. Sec. 5. The county superintendents of the poor in the 
poo? etc°may several counties, or the recorder of any city of the county, or the 
bind out’minors, probate judge of such county, and upon the relation of any person 
they or either of them are hereby authorized and required to insti¬ 
tute inquiry, and to examine witnesses on oath as to the merits of the 
case, and shall keep a record of proceedings, and file the same in 
the county clerk’s office, and may bind out any child under the 
ages above specified who shall be sent to any county poor-house, or 
who is or shall become chargeable, or whose parent or parents 
shall become chargeable to such county, to be clerks, apprentices, 
or servants, until such child, if a male, shall be twenty-one years 
old, and if a female, shall be eighteen years old, or until her mar¬ 
riage within that age, which binding shall be as effectual as if such 


1 As amended by Act No. 66, Laws of 1863, p. 80, and by Act No. 150, p. 181, Laws of 
1875. 






SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


59 


child had bound himself or herself with the consent of his or her 
father. 1 —(§4861.) 

(232.) Sec. 6. The directors of the poor of any township or city when director* 
may also bind out any such child who, or whose parent or parents', 11 ^°* may 
shall become chargeable to the county, and who shall be supported 
in their township, with the consent in writing of one of the county 
superintendents of the poor.—(§4862.) 

(233.) Sec. 7. The age of every infant bound pursuant to the Age of minor to- 
provisions of this chapter shall be inserted in the indentures, and iSSSs. in 
shall be taken to be the true age without further proof thereof; and 
whenever any public officers are authorized to execute any inden¬ 
tures, or their consent is required to the validity of the same, it 
shall be their duty to inform themselves fully of the infant's age. 

—(§4863.) 

(234.) Sec. 8. The counterpart of any indentures executed by counterpart, 
the county superintendents of the poor shall be by them deposited jX&f 
in the office of the clerk of the county; and the counterpart of any ion8t0 t>einsert- 
such indentures executed by the directors of the poor shall be by ^ 
them deposited in the office of the clerk of their township or city; 
and provision shall be made in every such indenture for teaching 
the minor to read, write, and cipher, and for such other instruction^ 
benefit, and allowance, as such superintendents or directors may 
think reasonable.— (§4864.) 

(235.) Sec. 9. All considerations of money or other things paid Moneys,. ete ; ,. 
or allowed by the master, upon any indenture of apprenticeship or to’be^^uTeof 
service, made in pursuance of this chapter, shall be paid or secured minor - 
to the sole use of the minor bound thereby.—(§4865.) 

(236.) Sec. 10. Parents and guardians, and superintendents and who to inquire 
directors of the poor, shall inquire into the treatment of all chil- chiXXXTto* 
dren bound by them respectively, or with their approbation, and of defend them * • 
all who shall be bound by their predecessors in office, and defend 
them from all cruelty, neglect, or breach of the indentures on the 
part of their masters.— (§4866.) 

(237.) Sec. 11. In case of any such misconduct or neglect of the complaint 
master, a complaint may be filed by the parent or guardian, or by Jfr SscSSSft.. 
the superintendents or directors of the poor, in the probate court 
for the county in which the master resides, setting forth the facts 
and circumstances of the case; and the court, having caused such 
notice as it shall deem reasonable to be given to the master, shall 
proceed to hear and determine the cause.—(§4867.) 

(238.) Sec. 12. After a full hearing of the parties, or of the when court may 
complainant alone in case the master shall neglect to appear, the andawf?d“osts r ” 
court may make an order or decree that the minor be discharged against master, 
from his apprenticeship or service, and for the costs of the proceed¬ 
ing against the master, and may issue execution therefor accord¬ 
ingly, and the minor may be bound out anew, unless such order be 
reversed on appeal.—(§4868.) 

(239.) Sec. 13. If the complaint be not sustained, the court when costs to be- 
shall order costs to be paid by the complainant to the master, and complainant! 1181 ' 

i \s amended by Act No. 66, Laws of 1863, p. 90, and by Act No. 150, p. 181,,Laws of 
1875. 





60 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


Master, when 
.liable to action. 


Damages recov¬ 
ered, how dis¬ 
posed of. 


"Within what 
time action to be 
•commenced. 


If judgment be 
rendered for 
plaintiff, minor 
may be dis¬ 
charged. 


'■proceedings if 
apprentice or 
servant leaves 
the service of his 
master. 


Justice may 
order offender to 
be returned, or 
may commit him. 


Effect of warrant 


Who to pay costs. 


Complaint 
against appren- 
tice for misbe¬ 
havior, and 


issue execution therefor accordingly ; excepting that if such com¬ 
plaint be made by the superintendents or directors of the poor, the 
court shall not award costs against them unless it shall appear that 
the complaint was made without any just or reasonable cause.— 
(§4869.) 

(240.) Sec. 14. Every master shall also be liable, whether such 
complaint shall have been filed or not, to an action on the inden¬ 
ture, for the breach of any covenant, on his part, therein con¬ 
tained ; which action shall be brought in the name of the minor 
by his guardian or next friend, or by himself, after his majority.— 
(§4870.) 

(241.) Sec. 15. If such action be brought and a recovery be had 
during the minority of such apprentice or servant, the damages 
recovered in such action, after paying the necessary charges of the 
prosecution, shall be the property of the minor, and may be appro¬ 
priated to his use, or invested for his benefit, in the same manner 
as any other property belonging to such minor.—(§4871.) 

(242.) Sec. 16. No such action shall be maintained by any 
apprentice or servant unless it be commenced during the term of 
apprenticeship or service, or within two years after the expiration 
thereof.—(§4872.) 

(243.) Sec. 17. If judgment in such action shall, upon the final 
determination thereof, be rendered for the plaintiff, the court in 
which the same is prosecuted may thereupon, by an order to be 
entered in its minutes, discharge the minor from his apprentice¬ 
ship or service, if it shall not have been already done in the man¬ 
ner before provided, and the minor may thereupon be bound out 
anew.—(§4873.) 

(244.) Sec. 18. If any apprentice or servant, bound as aforesaid, 
shall unlawfully depart from the service of his master, any justice 
of the peace, upon complaint on oath made to him by the master, 
or by any one in his behalf, may issue his warrant to apprehend 
the apprentice or servant, and bring him before, such justice.— 
(4874.) 

(245.) Sec. 19. If such complaint be supported, the justice may 
order the offender to be returned to his master, or may commit 
him to the common jail or house of correction, there to remain for 
a term not exceeding twenty days, unless sooner discharged by his 
master.—(4875.) 

(246.) Sec. 20. The justice’s warrant, when directed to any offi¬ 
cer or other person by name, shall authorize him to convey the 
offender to the place of residence of the master, although it may 
be in any other county in the State.—(§4876.) 

(247.) Sec. 21. All the costs incurred on any such process 
against an apprentice or servant, shall be paid in the first instance 
by the master; and if the complaint be supported, the amount of 
such costs may be recovered in an action against the minor, after 
he shall arrive at full age.—(§4877.) 

(248.) Sec. 22. If any such apprentice or servant shall be guilty 
of any gross misbehavior, or refusal to do his duty, or willful 
neglect thereof, his master may file his complaint in the probate 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


61 


court of the county in which he resides, and the court, after caus- proceedings 
ing such notice as it shall deem reasonable, to be given to the par- thereon - 
ent or guardian who consented to the binding of such apprentice 
or servant, or to the officers who bound him, or their successors in 
office, shall proceed to hear and determine the cause.—(§4878.) 

(249. Sec. 23. After a full hearing of the parties, or of the when court may 
complainant if the adverse party shall neglect to appear, the court fromobh ? gation! r 
may make an order or decree that the master be discharged from etc ~ 
the contract of apprenticeship or service, and for the costs of the 
suit; and the amount of such costs may be recovered in an action 
against the minor, with interest thereon, after he shall have arrived 
at full age; and such minor may be bound out anew.—(§4879.) 

(250.) Sec. 24. No indenture of apprenticeship or service, made Minor discharged 
in pursuance of this chapter, shall bind the minor after the death master! 11 ° f 
of the master, but the minor shall be thenceforth discharged there¬ 
from, and may be bound out anew.—(§4880.) 

(251.) Sec. 25. An indenture of apprenticeship or service made preceding pro¬ 
in pursuance of this chapter, by or in behalf of a minor, may be ^Srosses^ 
made either with a woman or man capable in law of contracting; 
and all the foregoing provisions shall apply as well to mistresses as 
to masters; and the recorder of any city of the county, or the cir¬ 
cuit judge of such county, may permit and order the transfer of 
such indentures as are authorized in this chapter when, upon suffi¬ 
cient proofs and hearing, such officer shall be satisfied such transfer 
will be for the interest of such minor: Provided, The consent of proviso, 
the minor shall first be given to such transfer, if at the time of 
such transfer such minor be of the age of fourteen years. 1 — 

(§4881.) 

(252.) Sec. 26. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prevent Common-iaw 
or affect the right of a father, by the common law, to assign or affected? 1 
contract for the services of his children for the term of their 
minority or of any part thereof.—(§4882.) 

(253.) Sec. 27. The mother of an illegitimate minor child shall M°. the r of me- 
have power to give the consent authorized m this chapter, to the may consent to 
binding of such child, during the lifetime of the putative father, bmding ‘ 
as well as after his death.—(§4883.) 


XIX. The Maintenance of Illegitimate 
Children. 


Chapter forty-two of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(254 ) Section 1. When any woman who has been delivered of complaint 

V / ^ J ,. against father of 

a bastard child, or is pregnant with a child which, it born alive, bastard child and 
may be a bastard, shall make a complaint to any justice of the S r “on? tion 

i as amended by Act No. 66, Laws of 1S63, p. 90, approved and took effect March 7, 

1863. 








62 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


10 Mich. 24. 


Warrant; pro- 
ceedings there¬ 
on. 


Proceedings in 
circuit court. 


Proviso. 


Trial and judg- 
ment. 


1 Doug. Mich. 47. 
10 Mich. 24. 


Bond to secure 
performance of 
order, etc. 


peace, and shall desire to institute a prosecution against the person 
whom she accuses of being the father of the child, the justice 
shall take her accusation and examination in writing, under oath, 
respecting the person accused, the time when and the place where 
the complainant was begotten with child, and such other circum¬ 
stances as the said justice shall deem necessary for the discovery of 
the truth of such accusation.—(§1973.) 

(255.) Sec. 2. The said justice may issue his warrant against 
the party accused, which may be executed in any part of the State, 
and, after hearing him in his defense, may require him to enter into 
recognizance with one or more sureties to the satisfaction of the 
justice, in such sum as he may deem necessary, not less than one 
hundred nor more than five hundred dollars, upon condition to 
appear and answer to the said complaint at the next term of the 
circuit court for the county, and to abide the order of the court 
thereon, and may order him to be committed until he shall enter 
into such recognizance; and on the trial of the issue before the 
court, the examination taken as aforesaid shall be given in evidence. 
—(§1974.) 

(256.) Sec. 3. If at the next term of the said court, the com¬ 
plainant shall not have been delivered, or shall not be able person¬ 
ally to attend, or if there shall be any other sufficient reason 
therefor, the court may order a continuance of the cause, from 
time to time, as they shall judge necessary, and such recognizance 
shall remain in force until final judgment: Provided , That if the 
sureties of any recognizance shall, at any term of said court, object 
to being any longer held liable, or if the court shall, for any cause, 
deem it proper, such court may order the defendant to enter into 
a new recognizance, with such sureties and for such amount as 
they shall direct ; and he shall stand committed until such new 
recognizance shall be entered into.—(§1975.) 

(257.) Sec. 4. Upon the trial of the cause, the woman making 
the complaint shall be admitted as a witness, unless she shall have 
been convicted of a crime which would by law render her incom¬ 
petent as a witness in any other cause; and the issue to the jury 
shall be whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty; and if the 
jury shall find him guilty, or if he shall admit the truth of the 
accusation, he shall be adjudged to be the father of such child, 
and shall stand chargeable with the maintenance thereof, with the 
assistance of the mother, in such manner as the court shall order. 
—(§1976.) 

(258.) Sec. 5. Such person so adjudged to be the father of such 
child shall give bond to the superintendents of the poor of the 
county, with sufficient sureties to the satisfaction of the court, to 
perform such order, and also to indemnify the county which might 
be chargeable with the maintenance of such child, and he may be 
committed to prison until he shall give such bond; but if on such 
trial he shall be found not guilty, the court shall order that he be 
discharged; and in either case the judgment of the court shall be 
final. 1 —(§1977.) 


i No writ of error can be taken to the Supreme Court under this act. See 8 Mich . 
.113; 5 Mich,, 225, 




SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


63 


(259.) Sec. 6. Any man who shall have been imprisoned ninety Relief of person 
days for having failed to comply with the order of the circuit court, impnsoned - 
as provided in this chapter, shall have the benefit of the laws for 
the relief of poor prisoners committed on execution for debt, pro¬ 
vided he shall procure the like notification of his intention to take 
the oath prescribed to poor debtors, to be served on the complain¬ 
ant, if still living within this State, and also upon one of the said 
superintendents of the poor; such notification to be served at least 
thirty days before the time appointed for taking the oath.— 

(§1978.) 

(260.) Sec. 7. The mother of such child, and the said county stm liable to 
superintendents respectively, may at all times after the liberation actlon ‘ 
of such prisoner on taking said oath, recover, by action of debt or 
on the case, any sum of money which ought to have been paid to 
them, respectively, by him in pursuance of such order of the court. 

—(§1979.) 

(261.) Sec. 8. If any woman shall be delivered of a bastard when superin. 
child which shall be chargeable or likely to become chargeable to Sake^ppUca- 
any county, or shall be pregnant of a child likely to be born a exam * 
bastard and to become chargeable to any county, the superin¬ 
tendents of the poor of any county, or any of them, where such 
woman shall be, shall, upon application for aid in supporting such 
child by the mother thereof, apply to some justice of the peace of 
the same county to make inquiry into the facts aud circumstances 
of the case.— (§1980.) 

(262.) Sec. 9. Such justice shall examine such woman on oath woman to be^ 
respecting the father of such child, the time when and the place repiTeTfather 
where she was begotten with child, and such other circumstances a PP rehended * 
as the justice may deem necessary for the discovery of the truth; 
and shall thereupon issue his warrant to apprehend the reputed 
father; and the same proceedings shall be thereupon had, as if 
complaint had been made by such woman, as prescribed in the 
foregoing provisions of this chapter, and with the like effect.— 

(§1981.) 

(263.) Sec. 10. Any warrant issued for the apprehension of 
such reputed father may be executed in any county in this State, county? m any 
in which the person against whom the same issued may be found.— 

(§1982.) 

(264.) Sec. 11. The superintendents of the poor of any county superintendents 
in this State shall have power to make such compromise and 3*°oT 189 

arrangement with the putative father of any bastard child in such bastard, 
county, relative to the support of such child, as they shall deem 
equitable and just, and thereupon may discharge such putative 
lather from all liability for the support of such bastard.—(§1983.) 




64 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


NX. Disorderly Persons. 


From chapter thirty-nine of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

what persons (265.) Section 1. All persons wlio do run away, or threaten to 
deemed disor- ruu away> w j 10> being of sufficient ability, refuse or neglect to sup¬ 
port their families, or leave their wives or children a burden on the 
public ;******* and all vagrants, 
shall be deemed disorderly persons. * * * 1 —(§1960.) 2 


XXI. Dissection in Certain Cases. 


An Act to authorize dissection in certain cases, for the advancement of science. 

Laws of 1867, p. 254. Approved March 27, 1867. 

provision for fur- (266.) Section 1 . The People of the State of Michigan enact , 

Sty and Detroit That any member of either of the following boards of officers, to 
withcertainsub : the board of health of any city, village, or township in the 
jects for dissec- State, the mayor or common council of any city, and any officer or 
tlon ’ board having direction, management, charge, or control in whole 

or in part of any prison, house of correction, or jail in the State, 
shall deliver the dead bodies of such persons as may be required to 
be buried at the public expense, when so requested by letter or 
otherwise, to any member of the medical faculty of the University 
of Michigan, or Detroit Medical College, when there shall be de¬ 
posited with such board or officer sufficient money to defray the 
expense and trouble of packing and preparing the same for ship¬ 
ment, which shall not exceed the sum of fifteen dollars for each 
subject, shall deliver, within forty-eight hours after the death of 
such person, to the express company or freight company at the 
nearest railroad station, properly placed in a plain coffin as for 
burial, and inclosed in a strong box, plainly directed to the person 
and place as directed by the consignee making such deposit, to be 
shipped to such consignee to be used by him for the advancement 
of anatomical science, preference being always given to the faculty 
Preference to of the medical department of the University of Michigan for their 
of e uniJe f rs C ity! y use in the instruction of medical students, and after they have 
made their orders and deposit of money as aforesaid; and such 
officer making board or officers shall take the usual shipping receipt for such 
receipt, etc. lke packages, and shall notify the consignee of such shipment by letter, 
mailed on the day the packages are delivered to the express corn- 

1 As amended by Act No. 89, p. 147, Laws of 1865, and Act No. 113, p. 150, Laws of 
1873. 

2 For the apprehension of disorderly persons, security for their good behavior, 
etc., see Chap. 53 of the Comp. Laws of 1871. 








SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


6 


pany or freight company at the railroad depot. In no case shall the Cost of bodies to- 
faculty or the regents be entitled to require or receive from any students - 
medical student or students, for any such body furnished therein, 
any sum of money in excess of the actual cost of procuring the 
same. Any of said officers who shall neglect to comply with any penalty for neg- 
sucli request after being tendered or receiving the money so re- furnish 
quired to be deposited, shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred 
dollars for each body that he neglects to ship as aforesaid, one-half 
of which shall go to the party making the demand and deposit as 
aforesaid : Provided , That the University and each and every med- Proviso, 
ical institution shall not receive into their possession such bodies 
as are procured in this State other than those provided for bv the 
provisions of this act, and every individual or party violating this 
provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. 1 —(§2110.) 

(2G7.) Sec. 2. No such dead body shall be shipped as aforesaid when bodies 
if, within twenty-four hours after death, or before such body shall ? e °ndered. siu ' 
be shipped, any relatives or friends of the deceased who will bury 
the body at his own expense, or shall require to have the body 
buried; or if such deceased person was a stranger or traveler, the 
dead body shall in all such cases be buried. 2 —(§2111.) 

(268.) Sec. 3. No such dead body shall be sold or delivered to Bodies must not 
any person to be taken out of the State, nor shall any such dead taken out of the 
body be shipped to any person or place out of the State, or be state * etc ' 
used within the State for any purpose except for the prosecution 
of anatomical science. Any person violating any of the provisions Penalty for vio- 
of this act shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty, or of^tnS act. vlSKmS 
more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county 
jail not less than one or more than three months, or by both such 
fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. 2 —(§2112.) 

(269.) Sec. 4. Any practicing physician or surgeon of this State, Permission to* 
or any medical student under the authority of such physician or possess - 
surgeon, may have in his possession human dead bodies, or the parts 
thereof, lawfully obtained, for the purposes of anatomical inquiry 
or dissection.— (§2113.) 


XXII. Miscellaneous Provisions. 


INSPECTION OF COUNTY JAILS. 

From Chapter 171 of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(270.) Section 16. In each county of this State, the judge of inspectors of 
the circuit court together with the county superintendents of the jais " 
poor, shall be inspectors of the jails respectively. 3 —(§8033.) 

1 As amended Toy Act No. 113, p. 182, Laws of 1871, and Act No. 138, p. 164, Laws of 
1875. 

2 As amended by Act No. 138, p. 164, Laws of 1875. 

3 As amended by Act No. 146, p. 178, Laws of 1875. 

9 






6 


LAWS RELATING TO THE 


'When superin¬ 
tendents of poor 
may remove 
paupers from 
poorhouses. 


'When guardian 
anay he appoint¬ 
ed for spend¬ 
thrifts. 


When license 
not to be granted 
without the ap¬ 
probation of 
superintendents 
of poor. 


When certificate 
‘Of superintend- 
•ent of poor neces- 
■sary. 


RELIEF OF POOR PERSONS BY VILLAGES. 

From Act granting and defining the powers and duties of incorporated villages. 

Laws of 1875, p. 57. 

CHAPTER VII. 

(271.) Section 2. The council of any village may make such 
provisions as they shall deem expedient, for the support and relief 
of poor persons residing in the village. 

REMOVAL OF PAUPERS FROM POORHOUSES. 

From Chapter thirty-five of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(272.) Sec. 26. Whenever any pestilence or contagious disease 
shall break out in any county poorhouse in this State, or in the 
vicinity thereof, and the physician to such county poorhouse, or 
such other physician as the superintendents may consult, shall cer¬ 
tify that such pestilence or disease is likely to endanger the health 
of the persons supjiorted at such poorhouse, the superintendents 
of such county poorhouse shall cause the persons there supported, 
or any of them, to be removed to some other suitable place in the 
same county, and there to be maintained and provided for at the 
expense of the county, with all necessary medical attendance and 
care, until they can safely be returned to such poorhouse, or other¬ 
wise discharged.—(§1717.) 

APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIANS FOR SPENDTHRIFTS.* 

From Chapter eighty-six of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(273.) Sec. 16. When any person, by excessive drinking, or by 
gaming, idleness, or debauchery of any kind, shall so spend, waste, 
or lessen his estate, as to expose himself or his family to danger of 
want or suffering, or the county to charge or expense for the sup¬ 
port of himself or his family, any superintendent of the poor of 
the county, or director of the poor, or justice of the peace of the 
township, of which such spendthrift is an inhabitant, or in which 
he resides, may present a complaint to the judge of probate, setting 
-forth the facts and circumstances of the case, and praying to have 
a guardian appointed for him.—(§4825.) 

APPROVAL BY SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE POOR OF THE SALE OF THE 
REAL ESTATE OF WARDS. 

From Chapter seventy-seven of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(274.) Section 41. No license shall be granted to any guardian 
to sell real estate of his ward as provided in this chapter in auy 
case excepting that of minors, unless the superintendents of the 
poor of the county of which the ward is an inhabitant, or in which 
he resides, shall certify to the judge of probate, in writing, their 
approbation of such proposed sale, and that they deem it necessary. 
—(§4585.) J 

From Chapter seventy-eight of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(275.) Section 9. No such license shall be granted for the sale 
of any real estate of a ward, excepting that of a minor, unless the 



SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


63 


superintendents of the poor of the county of which the ward is an 
inhabitant shall certify in writing their approbation of the proposed 
sale.—(§4608.) 

PROCEEDINGS BY AND AGAINST PUBLIC BODIES HAVING CERTAIN COR¬ 
PORATE POWERS, AND BY AND AGAINST OFFICERS REPRESENTING 
THEM. 

Chapter one hundred and nineteen of Revised Statutes of 1846. 

(276.) Section 1. In all cases not otherwise provided by law, Actions by cer- 
action may be brought by the board of supervisors of a county; ^ publlc offl - 
by county superintendents of the poor; by supervisors of town¬ 
ships; by directors of the poor of the several townships; by 
inspectors of primary schools, and commissioners of highways of 
the several townships, and by assessors of school districts, upon 
any contract lawfully made with them or their predecessors in their 
official character, or to enforce any liability, or any duty enjoined 
by law, to such officers or the body which they represent, and to 
recover damages for any injuries done to the property or rights of 
such officers, or of the bodies represented by them. —(§6624.) 

(277.) Sec. 2. Such actions, when brought by any board of in what names, 
supervisors, shall be in the name of such board as provided bylaw; Slight. 0be 
when brought by any supervisor in behalf of his township, they 5 Mich - 528 - 
shall be brought in the name of such township; when brought by 
superintendents of the poor, inspectors of primary schools, com¬ 
missioners of highways, or directors of the poor, or by any other 
officers authorized to sue in their name of office, they shall be 
brought in the name of their respective offices, without naming 
the persons holding the same; and when brought by the assessor or 
other person representing a school district, they shall be brought 
in the name of such district.—(§6625.) 

(278.) Sec. 3. Such actions may be brought by such officers, on contracts 
notwithstanding the contract or obligation on which the same is predeces ~ 
founded may have been made with or to any predecessors of such 
officers, and notwithstanding any right of action may have accrued 
previous to the time when the officers commencing such suit entered 
upon the execution of the duties of their office.— (§6626.) 

(279.) Sec. 4. Actions against any of the officers or bodies named Actions against 
in the second section of this chapter, shall be brought against them and bodies, 
by the same name in which such officers or bodies are respectively 
authorized to sue, and such actions may be commenced and prose¬ 
cuted to final judgment in the same manner, as near as may be, as 
actions against individuals, except as otherwise is or shall be pro¬ 
vided by law.—(6627.) 

(280.) Sec. 5. When any contract shall have been entered into on contracts of 
or any liability incurred, by or in behalf of any county or town- predeces ors - 
ship, by any officer thereof, within the scope of his authority, the 
same remedies may be had after the termination of his office, and 
process may be served in the same manner upon any successor of 
such officer, as if he had continued in office.— (§6628.) 

(281.) Sec. 6. No suit commenced by or against any officers Not abated by 
named in this chapter, or the bodies represented by them, shall be omcersf 0 " ° f 





'68 


SUPPORT OF POOR PERSONS. 


Judgment 
against town¬ 
ships, et c., 
collected. 

8 Mich. 372. 


abated or discontinued by the death of such officers, their removal 
from or resignation of their offices, or the expiration of their term 
of office; but such suit shall be prosecuted or defended by their 
successors in such office in the same manner as if no such change 
had taken place.—(§6629.) 

(282.) Sec. 7. When a judgment shall be recovered against any 
township, or against any township officers, in an action prosecuted 
by or against them in their name of office, no execution shall be 
awarded or issued upon such judgment, but the same, unless 
reversed, shall be levied and collected as other township charges; 
and, when so collected, shall be paid by the township treasurer to 
the person to whom the same shall have been adjudged, upon the 
delivery of a proper voucher therefor.—(6630.) 





INDEX 


[The numbers in the Index refer to the consecutive Sections of the Compilation.] 


ACCOUNTS, 

of supervisors and justices, how audited and 
paid, 50, 71, 73. 

to be kept with each township by county treas¬ 
urers in counties where townships support 
the poor, 64. 

ACTIONS, 

against relatives for neglect to support of poor 
persons, 16. 

for support of paupers, when barred as against 
counties, 40. 

on indenture of ajiprentice for breach of cove¬ 
nant, 240, 242. 

brought by and against public bodies having 
certain corporate powers, etc., 276 to 282. 
ADJUTANT general, 
to issue order for admission of persons to sol¬ 
dier’s home at Harper Hospital, 113. 
to be attorney to collect pensions of persons 
admitted, 114. 

AGENT OF STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL, 
appointment, duties, etc., 188. 

AGENTS FOR CARE OF JUVENILE OFFEND¬ 
ERS, 

appointment and duties, 193 to 199. 

(See State Agency for care of Juvenile Offenders.) 
ALDERMEN OF CITIES, 
not to hold office of superintendent of poor, 41. 
ALMS-HOUSES, 

when children in, not to be included in school 
census, 6. 

union, establishment and government of, 81 to 
97. 

when insane persons not to be confined longer 
in, 155. 

APPRENTICES, 
provisions relating to, 227 to 253. 

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, 
of Hospitals or Asylums, 200, 201. 
of industrial and other charitable schools, 208, 
209. 

ASYLUMS, 

for deaf, dumb, blind, and insane to be sup¬ 
ported, 2. 

{See Insane Asylums .) 

ASYLUMS OR HOSPITALS, 
incorporation of, 200 to 207. 

AUDITOR GENERAL, 
duty of, under act to create a soldier’s aid 
fund, 115. 

duty of under act for education of deaf, dumb, 
and blind, 117. 

BLIND, 

{See Deaf, Dumb, and Blind.) 

BOARD, 

OF CONTROL OF STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL, 

{See State Public School for Dependent and Neg¬ 
lected Children.) 

of Directors of Union Work-Houses and 
Alms-Houses, 

how chosen, powers, etc., 82. 1 


BOARD {Continued), 

School District, 

may purchase books for indigent children, 7. 
to have custody of books purchased for indi¬ 
gent children, 8. 

or State Commissioners for the generae 
supervision of Charitable, Penal, Pau¬ 
per, and Reformatory Institutions, 
appointment and term of office, 161. 
Governor ex officio member of board, 161. 
vacancies and removals, 161. 
oath of office, 162. 

secretary, appointment and duties, 162. 
duties of commissioners relative to exami¬ 
nation of poor-houses, etc., 163. 
compensation and expenses of commission¬ 
ers, 164. 

members of, and secretary not to be inter¬ 
ested in certain contracts, 165. 
who not eligible to office of commissioner, 
165. 

biennial report, 166. 

special investigation, report, and recom¬ 
mendations, 166. 

examination and collection of laws relating 
to penal institutions, etc., 167. 
compensation of board, 167. 
construction of act, 168. 
visiting of similar institutions for the pur¬ 
pose of gaining information, 169. 

Governor may appoint females to inspect 
institutions, 170. 

appointment of county agents of, 193 to 199. 
of Supervisors, 

{See Suvervisors.) 

BOND, 

of treasurer of commissioners for building 
school for dependent and neglected children, 
177. 

of treasurer of board of control of school for 
dependent and neglected children, 180. 
to secure performance of order of court for 
maintenance of illegitimate children, 258. 
BUILDINGS, 

for poor-houses, etc., boards of supervisors 
authorized to erect, 3, 29, 30. 

CENSUS, 

school district: children in alms-houses, etc., 
when not to be included in, 6. 
CERTIFICATE, 

releasing poor debtors from imprisonment, 

222 . 

CHARITABLE, PENAL, PAUPER, AND RE¬ 
FORMATORY INSTITUTIONS, 
supervision of, 161 to 170. 

CHILDREN, 

State agency for care of, 193 to 199. 
certain, not to be included in school census, 6. 
indigent,school board may purchase books for,d. 
indigent, school board to have care of book s 
purchased for, S. 






70 


INDEX. 


CHILDREN (i Continued ), 
pauper, education of, provided for, 44. 
dependent and neglected, care and support of, 
171 to 192. 

destitute, when trustees of asylums or hospi¬ 
tals may apprentice, 204. 
illegitimate, mother of may consent to binding 
out, 253. 

complaint against father of, and examination 
thereon, 254. 

warrant, and proceedings thereon, 255. 
proceedings in circuit court, 256. 
trial and judgment, 257. 

bond to secure performance of order, etc., 258. 
relief of person imprisoned, 259. 
liable to action after liberation, 260. 
when superintendents to make application for 
examination, 261. 

woman to be examined and reputed father ap¬ 
prehended, 262. 

warrant may be executed in any county, 263. 
superintendents may compromise with father, 
264. 

CIRCUIT COURT, 

application to, for order compelling relatives 
to support poor persons, 10. 
hearing of proofs and order of, 11. 
to determine the order in which relatives are 
liable, 12. 

may direct two or more relatives to contribute, 
13. 

may specify time during which relatives shall 
maintain poor, 14. 

costs and expenses of application to be deter¬ 
mined by, 15. 

may enforce payment by attachment, 15. 
return to, of inventory of property seized, 19. 
may confirm or discharge seizure, etc., 20. 
account to, for money received for sale of prop¬ 
erty, etc., 21. 

CITIES, 

authorized to erect union work-houses and 
alms-houses, 81. 

COMPENSATION, 
of superintendents of poor, 26. 
to persons bringing paupers to poor-house, by 
whom fixed, 28. 

of supervisors when caring for poor, 34. 

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, 
relative to support of poor persons, 1, 2. 

COUNTIES, 

authorized to erect union work-houses and 
alms-houses, 81. 

COUNTY CLERK, 

not to hold office of superintendent of poor, 41. 

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE POOR, 
{See Superintendents of the Poor.) 

COUNTY TREASURER, 
to pay drafts drawn for support of poor, 28. 
not to hold office of superintendent of poor, 41. 
to keep separate accounts with townships lia¬ 
ble for support of poor, 64. 
to present to board of supervisors accounts of 
townships, 66. 

duty of under act for relief of families of vol¬ 
unteers, 102, 103. 

DEAF AND DUMB AND THE P,LIND, 
institutions for benefit of, to be fostered and 
supported, 2. 

assistance to, in certain cases, 117. 
education of, 117 to 122. 

DEBTORS, 

poor, relief of, from imprisonment, 214 to 226. 

DETROIT, 

city of, act for support of poor persons by pub¬ 
lic not to apply to, 54. 

city of, common council may appoint person to 
afford temporary relief to' families of volun¬ 
teers, 107. 

DETROIT MEDICAL COLLEGE, 
provision for furnishing certain subjects to, for 
dissection, 266 to 269. 

DIRECTORS OF THE POOR, 
to approve of manner of support of certain 
poor, 9. 


DIRECTORS OF THE POOR ( Continued ), 
to make annual report to county superintend 
ents, 79, SO. 

when may bind out minors, 232. 

DISORDERLY PERSONS, 
who deemed to be, 265. 

DISSECTION, _ 

in certain cases, act to authorize, 266 to 269. 
DISTRICT BOARD, 

{See Board , School District.) 


DUMB, 

{See Deaf ancl Dumb and the Blind.) 
TP. DTTn AT TON 


of pauper children, 44. 

of deaf, dumb, and blind, 117 to 122. 


ELECTORS, 

to determine amount to be assessed each year, 
for support of poor, 70. 

EXPENSES, 

for education of pauper children, how paid, 44. 

for support of poor, yearly estimate by super¬ 
intendents, 49. 

FURNITURE, 

purchase of, by superintendents, 28. 

GOVERNOR, 

to appoint board of commissioners for general 
supervision of Charitable, Penal, Pauper,and 
Reformatory institutions, 161. 

member of board, 161, 

to appoint county agents for care of juvenile 
offenders, 193. 


GUARDIANS, 

appointment of, for spendthrifts, 273. 
HARPER HOSPITAL, 
assistance to Michigan soldiers, etc., at, 110. 
provisions upon which Michigan soldiers, etc., 
may be admitted to, 113. 

HIGHWAY LABOR, 
persons exempt from, 5. 

HOSPITALS OR ASYLUMS, 
incorporation of 200 to 207. 

IDIOTS, 


exempt from highway labor, 5. 
who are paupers, superintendents to provide 
for support of, 35. 

IDLE PERSONS, 

may be committed to union work-houses and 
alms-houses, 96. 

ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN, 
maintenance of, 254 to 264. 

IMPRISONMENT, 

of poor debtors, act for relief from, 214 to 226. 
INDIAN CHILDREN, 
when not to be included in school census, 6. 
INDIGENT CHILDREN, 

{See Children.) 


INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER CHARITABLE 
SCHOOLS, 

incorporation of, 208 to 213. 

INFANTS, 

may bind themselves as apprentices, etc., 227. 
consent to binding of, by whom given, 228. 
how consent signified, 229. 

{See Children.) 

INSANE ASYLUMS, 
to be fostered and supported, 2. 

Eastern Michigan, location of, 123. 

Michigan, location of, 123. 

separate boards of trustees for each asylum, 

1 09 


district of each asylum, 124. 

Trustees may establish by-laws and rules, 125. 
Treasurer vested with powers of superintend¬ 
ents of the poor, 126. 
steward, powers and duties of, 127. 
notice when Eastern Asylum ready for admis¬ 
sion of patients, 128. 

county superintendents and supervisors to 
send insane persons to, 129. 
confinement of insane persons, etc., 130. 
penalty for confining insane persons contrary 
to law, 131. 

how persons in indigent circumstances may be 
sent to, 132. 

duty of county and township officers, etc., 133. 






INDEX. 


IV 1 

i I 


INSANE ASYLUMS ( Continued ), 
minute of date of reception, name, etc., to be 
made by superintendent, 134. 
expenses of persons in indigent circumstances 
paid by county in certain cases, 135. 

■when persons acquitted of criminal charge on 
ground of insanity, 136. 

■when persons confined under criminal charge, 
etc., appear to be insane, 137. 
when persons imprisoned on civil process, etc., 
become insane, 138. 

persons charged with misdemeanors, and ac¬ 
quitted on ground of insanity, 139. 
weekly charges for patients, how fixed, 140. 
quarterly statement to Secretary of State of 
persons to be maintained by State, 140. 
bills rendered quarterly to Auditor General, 

140. 

payment by State Treasurer, 140. 
insane persons personally liable for their sup¬ 
port, 141. 

relatives, city, town, county, etc., when liable, 

141. 

payment for support, by counties, 142. 
payment of expenses for removal from Asy¬ 
lum back to counties, 143. 
right of counties, etc., to recover for support 
of insane, 144. 

who may discharge patients of a criminal class, 
145. 

patients not to be discharged without suitable 
clothing, etc., 146. 

duty of county officers, etc., as to condition of 
patients sent to asylums, 147. 

■expenses for support when residence is uncer¬ 
tain, how determined, 148. 
appeal from decision, 148. 

payment of expenses when counties neglect or 
refuse to pay, 149. 
compensation of trustees, 150. 
superintendents of poor, etc., to report to Sec¬ 
retary of Board of State charities, 151. 
judge of probate to inquire into legal settle¬ 
ment of indigent insane, etc., 152. 
when insane person has not acquired a legal 
settlement in any county Secretary of State 
to ascertain residence if possible, 152. 
payment of bills for maintenance, 152. 
joint meetings of boards of trustees, 153. 
transfer of patients from one asylum to the 
other, 153. 

certain terms used in act, what to include, 154. 
when Eastern Asylum shall be opened no in¬ 
sane to be confined in alms-houses, 155. 
when requirements to send insane to Eastern 
Asylum to take effect, 156. 

INSANE CONVICTS, 

care of, at expiration of term of sentence, at 
penal institutions or Detroit House of Cor¬ 
rection, 158 to 160. 

notice to be given before discharge, 158. 
probate judge to issue warrant to sheriff to re¬ 
ceive convict, 158. 

diity of sheriff on receipt of warrant, 159. 
proceedings before judge of probate, 160. 
when to be admitted to asylum at expense of 
State, 160. 

judge to report to Board of State Auditors, 160. 
expenses of proceedings, how paid, 160. 
provision when not in indigent circumstances, 
160. 

INSANE PAUPERS, 
when property of, may be sold, 23. 

INSANE PERSONS, 
care and support of, 123 to 160. 

INVENTORY, 

of property of persons neglecting or refusing 
to support relatives, 17 to 19. 

JAILS, 

inspection of, 270. 

JUDGE OF PROBATE, 
duty of, in relation to examination of insane 
persons, 132. 

to inquire into legal settlement of indigent in¬ 
sane, etc., 152. 


JUDGE OF PROBATE ( Continued ), 
duty of, under act relative to care of insane 
convicts, at expiration of term of service, 
etc., 158 to 160. 

to examine children before sending to State 
Public School, 1S6, 190. 
when may bind out minors, 231. 

JUDGMENTS, 

against townships, etc., how collected, 2S2. 

JUVENILE OFFENDERS, 
act establishing a State agency for the care of, 
193 to 199. 

KEEPERS OF POOR-HOUSES, 
exempt from militia and jury service, 42. 

LAND, 

purchase of, for poor farm, 29, 30. 

LIABILITY, 

of superintendents of poor for neglect to ac¬ 
count, etc., for money, 48. 
of superintendents for neglect to make report, 
52. 

LUNATICS, 

exempt from highway labor, 5. 
who are paupers, superintendents to provide 
for support of, 35. 

MASTERS, APPRENTICES, AND SERVANTS, 
provisions relating to, 227 to 253. 

MAYORS OF CITIES, 

not to hold office of superintendent of poor, 41. 

MEETINGS, 

of board of superintendents of poor, when and 
where held, 27. 

MEDICAL COLLEGES, 
certain provisions for furnishing with subjects 
for dissection, 266 to 269. 

MILITARY BOARD, 

State, duty of under act to create soldiers’ aid 
fund for disabled soldiers, etc., 110 to 116. 

NOTICE, 

of application to cii*cuit court for order to com¬ 
pel persons to afford relief to poor relatives, 
10, 14. 

of hearing on seizure of estate of person ab¬ 
sconding, 17. 

to superintendents of poor of county from 
which pauper is removed, 37 to 40. 
to supervisor chargeable with support of poor, 
5S. 

to supervisor of appearance before superin- 
tendendents to contest settlement of pauper, 
59. 

when expenses of pauper are charged to town¬ 
ship, 62. 

when Eastern Asylum ready for patients, 128. 
to county clerk when counties neglect to pay- 
expenses for insane, 149. 
to be given before insane convicts are dis¬ 
charged, 158. 

of county clerk to magistrate, etc., of qualifi¬ 
cation of county agents for care of juvenile 
offenders, 193. 

to plaintiff for examination of poor debtors, 
217, 218. 

OATH, 

to be administered to poor debtor on discharge, 

220 , 221 . 

OATH OF OFFICE, 

of superintendents of the poor, where filed, 25. 
of agents for care of juvenile offenders, 193. 

OVERSEERS OF THE BOOR, 
to make annual report to county superintend¬ 
ents, 79, 80. 

PAUPER CHILDREN, 
education of, provided for, 44. 

PAUPERS, 

exempt from highway labor, 5. 
when property of, may be sold, 23. 
when removed from one county to another, 
how cared for, 37. 

removal of, from poor-houses in certain cases, 
272. 

(See Superintendents of the Poor.) 

PENALTY, 

for removing paupers from one county to 
another, etc., 36. 




72 


INDEX. 


PENALTY ( Continued), 
for removing pauper from another State, 45. 
for refusal to give security to transport person 
out of State, etc., 46. 

for neglect by supervisor to present accounts, 
etc., to township board, 68. 
duty of supervisor relative to recovery of, in 
certain cases, 72. 

for neglect of supervisor to report to township 
board the numher of persons relieved, etc., 
76. 

for refusal by supervisor, directors or over¬ 
seers of the poor, to make annual report to 
county superintendents, 80. 
on officers under act for education of deaf, 
dumb, and blind, 122. 

for confining insane persons contrary to law, 
131. 

for neglect of trustees of certain corporations 
to make report, 207, 213. 

for violation of pi’ovisions of act relative to dis¬ 
section, 268. 

PERSONAL PROPERTY, 
sale of, when brought to poor-house by pauper, 
23. 

POOR, 

board of supervisors authorized to abolish or 
revive distinction between township and 
countv, 3, 77. 

POOR DEBTORS, 

relief of from imprisonment, 214 to 226. 

POOR-HOUSES, 
erection of, 3, 29, 30. 

superintendents of poor to hold meetings at, 27. 
to have chai*ge of, 28. 
to purchase materials, etc., for, 28. 
to prescribe rate of allowance for bring¬ 
ing poor persons to, 28. 
to defray expenses of building, 30. 
may order poor persons removed to, 31. 
report of, to Secretary of State, to give 
account of condition, 51. 
support of paupers, who are idiots or lunatics 
oxxtside of, 35. 

keepers of, exempt from militia and jury ser¬ 
vice, 42. 

what places deemed pooi’-houses, 43. 
when pauper children to be educated at, 44. 
when children not to be kept in, 184. 
removal of paupers from, 272. 

POOR PERSONS, 
certain, exempt from taxation, 4, 5. 
support of, by their relatives, 9 to 23. 
support of, by counties, 24 to 54. 
support of, by townships, 55 to 7S. 
relief of, by villages, 271. 

(See Superintendents of the Poor.) 

PROCEEDINGS, 

when supervisor omits to support certain pau- 
pers, 61. 

by and against public bodies having certain 
corporate powers, etc., 276 to 282. 

PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, 
not to hold office of superintendent of poor, 41. 

REAL ESTATE, 

belonging to county, board of supervisors au¬ 
thorized to sell, lease, etc., 3. 

RECORDERS OF CITIES, 
when may bind out minors, 231. 

REFORM SCHOOL, 

duty of superintendent of, under act provid¬ 
ing for care of juvenile offenders, 198. 

REPORT, 

of supervisor to superintendents of pool*, and 
to board of supervisors, 33. 
of superintendents of poor to secretaiy of 
state, 51, 52. 

by supervisors to township board of number 
of poor persons relieved, etc., 75. 
of directors or overseers of the poor and su- 
pervisors to county superintendents, 79, 80. 
of board of directors of union work-houses 
and alms-houses, 92. 

of board of commissioners for general super¬ 
vision of charitable, penal, pauper, and refor¬ 
matory institutions, 166. 


REPORT ( Continued ), 

of agents for care of juvenile offenders to 
board, 197. 

RESIDENCE, 

of poor pei'sons, defined, 56, 57. 

SCHOOLS, 

industrial and other charitable, incorporation 
of, 208 to 213. 

SCHOOL -OFFICERS, 

duty of, relative to indigent and pauper chil- 
dren, 6 to 8. 

SCHOOL, STATE PUBLIC, 

(See State Public School for Dependent and Neg¬ 
lected Children.) 

SECRETARY OF STATE, 
to lay before legislature abstract of reports of 
superintendents of poor, 53. 
to furnish blanks for report by supervisors, 
etc., to county superintendents, 79. 
to ascertain if possible, residence of certain 
insane persons, 152. 

SECURITY, 

for transportation of pauper oxxt of State, 46. 
for support of illegitimate child by father, 258, 

SERVANTS, 

pi'ovisions relative to, 227 to 253. 

SETTLEMENT, 
of poor persons, defined, 56, 57. 

SHERIFFS, 

duty of, relative to discharged insane convicts, 
159. 


SITES, 

for county buildings, boards of supervisors 
authorized to purchase, 3. 

SOLDIERS’ AID FUND, 
act to create, 110 to 116. 

SOLDIERS’ ORPHANS, 
to have preference in admission to State Public 
School, 184. 

SPENDTHRIFTS, 
appointment of guai’dians for, 273. 

STATE AGENCY FOR CARE OF JUVENILE 
OFFENDERS, 

appointment of agents in the several counties, 

193. 

oath of office of agents, 193. 

notice of qualification to magistrates, 193. 

compensation, 193. 

court to notify agent of complaint against child, 

194. 

agent to make examination of parentage, etc., 
and report to court, 194. 
court may oi-der child returned to parents, 194. 
may authorize agent to bind out, 194. 
may cause to be sent to State Public School, 
House of Correction, or Reform School, 194. 
agent to visit indentured child, etc., 195. 
report when child is neglected or abused, 195. 
when board to cancel contract, 195. 
right to caixcel to be l’eserved in all indentures, 

195. 


pi’oceedings when persons not of kin wish to 
adopt, 196. 

relative to release of indentured children, 196. 
agents to seek out suitable persons to adopt 
children, 197. 

agents to report to board, 197. 
certain institutions to notify agent of discharge 
of children, 198. 

agent to assist child returned to county, 198. 
to keep history of child discharged, and report, 
198. 


application of act, 199. 

STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR DEPENDENT 
AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, 
appointment of commissioners to select site> 
etc., 171. 

powers and compensation of commissioners, 172. 
Governor ex officio member of board, 172. 
payment for site and deeds for same, 173. 
secretary and treasurer, appointment of, 173, 
quarterly account to Auditor General, 175. 
condition pi'ecedent to drawing money, 175. 
superintendence of construction, etc.*, 176. 
capacity of building, 176. 
oath of office of commissioners, 177. 






INDEX. 


73 


STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR DEPENDENT 
AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN {Continued), 
bond of treasurer, 177. 
certificate of completion, 178. 
public notice of completion and temporary 
control of school, 178. 

appointment and term of office of board of con¬ 
trol, 179. 

corporate name and rights, 179. 
board of conti*ol to meet quarterly, 180. 
bond of treasurer, 180. 
government and officers of school, 180. 
reception and continuance of pupils, and au¬ 
thority of board in relation thereto, 181. 
return of children to county, 181. 
maintenance and education of children, 182. 
object of act, 183. 

board to provide homes for pupils, in families, 
183. 

board, legal guaixiians of children, 183. 
children not to be kept in poor-houses, 184. 
soldiers’ orphans to have preference, 184. 
how admission divided among the several coun¬ 
ties, 185. 

superintendents of poor to forward children, 
185. 

expenses, how defrayed, 1S5. 
examination of children before sending, 1S6,190. 
board to keep open for inspection a registry 
book, 187. 

agent of, duties and expenses, 188. 
board of control to report biennially to legis¬ 
lature, 189. 

report to superintendent of public instruc¬ 
tion, 189. 

compensation of members of board, 189. 
board may consent to adoption of children, 191. 
examination of child by physician, 192. 
SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE POOR, 

Duties of, under act for Supfort of Poor 
Persons by their Relatives. 
when may apply to circuit court, for order 
to compel certain persons to support poor 
relatives, 10. 

service of notice of application, when and 
how made, 10. 
court to make order, 11. 
order in which relatives are liable, 12. 
contribution, when to be ordered, 13. 
order of court, what to specify, 14. 
payment of costs, expenses, etc., of appli¬ 
cation, how enforced, 15. 
may bring action against persons neglect¬ 
ing to support, 16. 

when to seize and take estate of persons ab¬ 
sconding, 17. 

inventory to be made, and copy, etc., left 
with owner, 17. 
notice of hearing, 17. 
when justice to approve inventory, 18. 
when vested with right to property seized, 
18. 

sales by OAvner, after seizure, void, 19. 
return of inventory, etc., to circuit court, 19. 
court may confirm or discharge seizure, 
etc., 20. 

sale of property and application of pro¬ 
ceeds, 21. 

account by superintendents to circuit court, 
of moneys received and expended, 21. 
may restore property seized to owner upon 
security given, 22. 

sale of paupers’ personal property, 23. 
right of person to proceeds of property sold 
when ceasing to be a county charge, 23. 
sale of property of insane pauper, 23. 
Duties of, under act for Support of Poor 
Persons by the Public, 
appointment of, by board of supervisors, 25. 
term of office and qualification, 25. 
majority of, may transact business, 26. 
compensation, 26. 
to be a corporation, 27. 
meetings of, when and where held, 27. 
to have general superintendence of poor, 28 


SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR ( Continued ), 
Duties of, under act for Support of Poor 
Persons by the Public, 
to have charge of county poor-houses, etc., 
28. 

to ordain rules, etc., 28. 
to employ keepers, etc., 28. 
to purchase materials, etc., 28. 
to prescribe rates of allowance for bringing 
paupers to poor-house, 28. 
to prosecute suits, 28. 

todraw on county treasurer for expenses, 

to render annual accounts and pay over 
moneys, 28. 

when may purchase land and erect poor- 
houses, 29. 

expense of purchase may be raised by tax, 
30. 

when may remove poor persons to poor- 
houses, 31. 

may furnish temporary relief to poor per¬ 
sons, 31. 

limit of amount of temporary relief to be 
furnished, 31. 

when may discharge persons from poor- 
houses, 32. 

report to, by supervisors affording relief, 33. 
to issue order on county treasurer, for re¬ 
lief furnished by supervisors, 34. 
limit of relief to be furnished by supervis¬ 
ors, without consent of, 34. 
may provide for support of paupers who 
are idiots or lunatics, outside of poor- 
houses, 35. 

punishment tor removing paupers from one 
county to another, 36. 

penalty for enticing, etc., poor persons to 
remove from one county to another, 36. 
to provide for and maintain paupers re¬ 
moved to county from other counties, 37. 
to give notice to superintendents of county 
from which paupers removed, 37. 
superintendents receiving notice to pay ex¬ 
penses, etc., or deny allegation of re¬ 
moval, 38. 

superintendents omitting to remove pau¬ 
per or give notice of denial, liable for ex¬ 
penses, 39. 

action for recovery of expenses, how and 
by whom maintained, 39. 
when action shall be commenced and bar¬ 
red for recovery of expenses, etc., 40. 
persons not eligible to office of, 41. 
keepers of poor-houses exempt from mili¬ 
tia and jury service, 42. 
what places to be deemed poor-houses, 43. 
education of pauper children, 44. 
removal of paupers from another state, 45, 
46. 

moneys received by superintendents, etc., 
to be paid to county treasurer, 47. 
liability of superintendent for neglect to 
account, 48. 

estimate for yearly expenses, 49. 
collection of money assessed for yearly ex¬ 
penses, 49. 

to audit and settle accounts, 50. 
to report annually to Secretary of State, 51, 
52. 

Secretary of State to report neglect to pros¬ 
ecuting attorney, 52. 

abstract of reports of, to be laid before Leg¬ 
islature, 53. 

provisions of act not to apply to city of 
Detroit, 54. 

where poor supported in case distinction 
between township and county poor is not 
abolished, 55. 

who deemed settled in township, 56. 
how minor may gain settlement, 56. 
settlement of paupers, 57. 
where poor persons to be supported, 58. 
when township precluded from contesting 
settlement, 59. 




74 


INDEX. 


SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR ( Continued ), 
Duties of, under act forSufport of Poor 

PERSONS BY THE PUBLIC, 
to hear proofs in cases of contest between 
townships as to liability to support poor, 
59. 

to compel attendance of witnesses, etc., 59. 
decision of, as to liability of townships to 
support poor, conclusive, 59. 
when to convene to hear controversy, 60. 
may award costs, etc., 60. 
supervisor on receiving notice to maintain 
pauper, 61. 

notice by, to supervisors relative to support 
of township poor, 62. 

to decide when support of paupers shall be 
charged to county, 62. 
decision to be filed and recorded in county 
clerk’s office, 63. 

annual statement of, to county treasurer, 
64. 

annual statement of, to board of supervis¬ 
ors, 65. 

apportionment of deficiency among town¬ 
ships, 65. 

statement to be delivered to county treas¬ 
urer, 65. 

treasurer to present account to board of su¬ 
pervisors, at annual meeting, etc., 66. 
annual report to, by directors or overseers 
of the poor and supervisors, 79, 80. 
Miscellaneous Duties. 

may commit idle persons and vagrants to 
union work-houses and alms-houses, 96. 
duty of, in relation to education of certain 
deaf, and dumb, and blind, 118 to 122. 
to send certain insane persons to asylums, 
129. 

to pay expenses of removal from asylum to 
county, etc., 143. 

duty relative to expenses of support of in¬ 
sane persons when residence is unknown, 
148. 

to report to secretary of board of state 
charities, 151. 

to forward children to State Public School, 
185. 

duty of, relative to examination of children 
before sending to State Public School, 186, 
190. 

when may bind out minors, 231. 
to inquire into treatment of children bound 
out, 236. 

adjudged father of illegitimate child to 
give bond to, 258. 

may recover money due after liberation of 
reputed father, 260. 

duty of, upon application for relief of bas¬ 
tard child, etc., 261. 

may make compromise with putative fath¬ 
er, 264. 

to be inspectors of county jails, 270. 
when may remove paupers from poor- 
houses, 272. 

duty of relative to spendthrifts, 273. 
approval by, of sale of real estate of wards, 
274, 275. 

actions may be brought by, upon contracts, 
in certain cases, 276. 

SUPERINTENDENT OF REFORM SCHOOL, 
duty of, under act to provide for care of juve¬ 
nile offenders, 198. 

SUPERVISORS, 

powers of local legislation may be conferred 
upon boards of, 1. 

authorized to purchase real estate, erect build¬ 
ings, etc., for county, 3, 29, 30. 
to provide for current expenses, 3. 
may abolish or revive distinction between town¬ 
ship and county poor, 3, 77. 
to appoint superintendents of poor, 25. 
to fix compensation of superintendents, 26, 
to fix time and place of meeting of board of 
superintendents, 27. 

to direct superintendents to provide suitable 
place for keeping poor, 28. 


SUPERVISORS ( Continued ), 
to cause removal of poor to county poor-house 
in certain cases, 31. 

may furnish temporary relief to poor persons, 
3i. 

supervisor affording relief to report to superin¬ 
tendents of the poor, 33. 
report of, to board of supervisors, 33. 
to receive order on county treasurer for sums 
paid, etc., 34. 

limit of amount may expend, without consent 
of supei’intendents, 34. 

compensation of, when caring for the poor, 34. 
not to hold office of superintendent, 41. 
moneys received by, to be paid to county 
treasurer, 47. 

how money may be collected on neglect to pay 
over, 47. 

estimate of yearly expenses by superintend¬ 
ents of the poor, to be presented to board 
of, 49. 

to cause sum necessary to be assessed and col¬ 
lected, 49. 

accounts of, how audited and paid, 50. 
notice by, to supervisor of townships liable 
for support of poor, 58. 

when supervisor receiving notice, barred from 
contesting settlement of poor persons, 59. 
to give notice of appearance before superin¬ 
tendents of poor, 59. 

may convene superintendents to hear contro¬ 
versy, 60. 

when required to receive and suxxport paupers, 
61. 

notice to, of intent to charge support of pau¬ 
pers to township, 62. 

may show cause why township should not be 
charged for such support, 62. 
on application of, superintendents shall re-ex¬ 
amine the matter, etc., 62. 
county treasurer to account to board of, 66. 
when'to present original books, etc., to town 
board, 67. 

when credit allowed to, 67. 
penalty for neglect to exhibit accounts, etc., 
to township board, 68. 

estimate by, of amount necessary to support 
poor ensuing year, 69. 

duty of, relative to suits for the recovery of 
penalties, 72. 

annual report by, of number of paupers re¬ 
lieved, and expense, 75. 
penalty for neglect to report, etc., 76. 
to make annual report to county superintend¬ 
ents of the poor, 79, 80. 

to provide relief for families of volunteers, 98. 
to create a volunteers’ family relief fund, 99. 
authorized to relieve soldiers’ families, 100 to 
104. 


action may be brought by, upon contracts in 
certain cases by boards of, 276. 

TAXATION, 

property of certain poor persons exempt from, 4. 
certain property of asylums or hospitals ex¬ 
empt from, 206. 

TERM OF OFFICE, 
of superintendents of the poor, 25. 

TEMPORARY RELIEF, 
provisions relative to, 31, 33, 34. 

TOWN BOARD, 

to compare certain accounts, etc., 67. 
to audit and settle accounts of supervisors and 
justices for services rendered in relation to 
poor, 71. 



TOWNSHIP CLERK, 

to examine accounts for support of poor, 69. 

TOWNSHIPS, 

support of poor persons by, 55. 

when poor persons deemed to have gained a 
settlement in, 56, 57. 

poor not to be removed from one township to 
another, 58. 

when precluded from contesting settlement of 
paupers, 59. 





INDEX 


75 


TREASURERS, 

county, 

(See County Treasurer.) 

TRUSTEES, 

of incorporated hospitals or asylums, duties 
of, 202 to 207. 

of industrial and other charitable schools, du¬ 
ties, etc., 210 to 213. 

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, 

provision for furnishing with certain subjects 
for dissection, 266 to 269. 

VACANCY, 

in board of directors of union work-houses and 
alms-houses, how tilled, 83. 

in board of state commissioners for general su¬ 
pervision of charitable, penal, pauper, and 
reformatory institutions, how tilled, 161. 

VAGRANTS, 

may be committed to union work-houses and 
aims-houses, 96. 

VILLAGES, 

relief of poor persons by, 271. 

VOLUNTEERS, 

mustered into state or U. S. service, relief of 
families of, 98 to 109. 

WARDS, 

approval of sale of real estate of, 274, 275. 


WORK-HOUSES AND ALMS-HOUSES, 
union, cities or counties authorized to erect, 
etc., 81. 

board of directors, powers of, and how chosen, 
82, 83. 

vacancies in board, how filled, 83. 
meetings of board, etc., 84. 
officers of board, 85. 
quorum, by-laws, rules, etc., 86. 
compensation of directors, 87. 
expenses, how paid, 88. 

recovery of delinquent city or county its pro¬ 
portion of expenses, 89. 
board body corporate, etc., 89. 
proportion of persons to be received at, 90. 
refusal to pay expenses, to deprive city or 
county of privileges, 91. 
register to be kept by superintendent, 92. 
annual report of directors, 92. 
apportionment of profits and earnings, 93. 
discharge of persons from, 94. 
employment of persons committed to, 95. 
idle persons and vagrants, by whom committed, 
96. 

when may be discontinued, 97. 


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